Canada's Conservative leader talks tariffs and martial arts with Joe Rogan

Canadian Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre sat down with popular podcaster Joe Rogan for a conversation that touched on Canada's assisted dying laws, fitness and US tariffs.

Ahead of the episode's release, Poilievre said his main goal was to argue for removing tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on Canada, saying it is beneficial for both countries.

"We need to harness the goodwill of the American people, and what better place to do it than on the biggest podcast in the world," Poilievre said.

The episode was part of a US tour the Conservative opposition leader made this week to increase his international profile as he lags in the polls behind Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Poilievre started the conversation with Rogan by presenting him with a kettlebell made in Canada, embossed with a maple leaf.

The two discussed a shared passion for fitness and martial arts, before moving on to Canadian politics and Poilievre's pitch for maintaining free trade between Canada and the US.

"We should get the tariffs out because there's so much we could be doing together as neighbours and partners," the Conservative leader said, arguing that Canada could help the US with its rising oil prices by selling it more energy.

He also said easing lumber and aluminium tariffs on Canada would help lower the cost of housing and trucks in the US.

Asked if he had made these arguments directly to President Donald Trump, Poilievre responded: "I believe in the rule of one prime minister at a time".

He said Carney's role is to negotiate on behalf of Canada and that he is in the US to support him in those efforts.

Rogan's questions also touched on other aspects of Canadian politics, including its assisted dying laws, which Rogan criticised as being too broad.

"My view is that people should have the choice," Poilievre responded.

But he added his party is concerned with expanding the law to cover people whose sole condition is mental illness—a move that has been delayed twice by the Canadian government and is now planned for March 2027.

Poilievre is in the US for his first official trip south of the border, and it comes ahead of consequential negotiations that will determine the future of the free trade agreement between Canada, the US and Mexico, which is up for a mandatory review this year.

His stops included Detroit, where he met car manufacturers executives, andTexas, where he toured facilities that process Canadian crude oil for shipment overseas, and pitched boosting Canada's production by two million barrels a year.

He said Texas Governor Greg Abbott is receptive to buying more products from Canada.

The last stop is New York City, where he will deliver an address at the Foreign Policy Institute on Thursday evening.

Poilievre's appearance on Rogan's podcast comes a year after he declined a previous invitation. At the time, Rogan said Poilievre refused because he felt the programme was "problematic".

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Poilievre denied this and said he thought Rogan is "a great guy".

On the show, the official opposition leader clarified that he could not appear earlier due to scheduling conflicts during the federal election campaign.

Poilievre also recently visited the UK and Germany, where he met government and business leaders and pitched a new plan for closer ties between Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand.

Poilievre's international trips come as opinion polls indicate he trails Prime Minister Carney in popularity.

Since taking office, Carney has made more than two dozen trips abroad, aimed at boosting investment in Canada and doubling non-US trade over the next decade.