A video of podcaster Theo Von in which he says there is a “genocide,” in Gaza and that the U.S. is “complicit,” has gone viral, viewed more than 18 million times at the time of reporting.
Newsweek has reached out to a representative for Theo Von outside of regular working hours via email for comment.
Why It Matters
Von, 45, is the host of the popular podcast “This Past Weekend,” which Trump appeared on during the 2024 presidential campaign, and Von was thanked by name by Trump’s longtime friend Dana White as he claimed victory in the election. His podcast is a top-rated show among young men, and is a key platform in the so-called “manosphere.”
Von regarding the situation in Gaza as a genocide is significant, given his relationship with Trump. His remarks have even more relevance now that Trump has joined in condemnation of attacks on farmers in South Africa which have been branded “white genocide.”
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What To Know
Von recently joined Trump during his trip to the Middle East. The president embarked upon a high-profile 4-day tour of key Middle Eastern nations, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
During a visit to al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Trump delivered a speech to U.S. and Qatari troops. Von spoke to the troops before Trump took the stage, delivering a routine that included jokes about drugs, disabilities, homosexuality, terrorism and Qatari culture.
The remarks were shared in an episode of Von’s podcast which first aired on May 10. The clip where Von discusses Gaza was shared by Von on X on May 21 and was captioned, “What are we doing?” The video was first posted before Von joined Trump on the trip to the Middle East and then shared on X after the trip.
“It feels to me like it’s a genocide that’s happening while we’re alive,” he says in the clip.
“I just can’t believe that we’re watching that and that more isn’t said about it,” Von says in the video. “I don’t even know what to do. And it’s crazy because our country’s also complicit in it and has been for a long time,” he says.
“I’m a member of this country, but what we want sometimes doesn’t matter,” he says. “You just have to be a member of a place and your government is making other choices.”
Von has said he is a centrist politically. He bet $125,000 on Trump winning the last election and was reported as finding common ground with a key message from Trump’s inaugural address to “put America first.” He was one of a number of podcasters who attended the ceremony.
The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people, most of whom were civilians, and abducting 251 others. It is believed that militants are holding 58 captives, around a third of whom are believed to be alive. Most of the hostages were returned in ceasefire agreements or other deals.
Israel’s retaliatory offense has killed more than 53,000 Palestinians, most of whom were women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. This figure does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. There is an ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with humanitarian groups warning of a risk of famine following an 11-week blockade of Gaza by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu government.
A number of prominent organizations have characterized Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide or genocidal acts, including the UN Special Committee, the UN Humanitarian Chief Tom Fletcher and Amnesty International. Israel rejects such allegations and maintains that its military operations target Hamas militants, not Gaza’s civilian population.
In late April, Trump said that he had encouraged Netanyahu to allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza as his nation’s war with Hamas remains ongoing.
On Tuesday May 20, Fletcher warned that 14,000 babies in Gaza could die if more aid did not enter the territory. This remark has been shared widely online, and Von’s post of the clip came shortly after this headline. Fletcher’s remark has received criticism from pro-Israeli voices.
On March 2, Israel stopped all aid and other supplies heading into Gaza, with Netanyahu warning Hamas at the time that “additional consequences” could come to fruition.
Trump has previously proposed that the U.S. take control of Gaza, saying that he would make it a “freedom zone.” The president has also expressed support for Israel while urging that they end the war in Gaza.
What People Are Saying
Theo Von, speaking in the clip: “You see all these photos of people, just children, women, people, body parts just, people putting their kids back together … I’m not saying anyone else needs to say anything … I just, I wanna be able to speak about that.”
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on April 22: “I’ve just spoken to Prime Minister of Israel, Bibi @Netanyahu, relative to numerous subjects including Trade, Iran, etc. The call went very well—We are on the same side of every issue.”
What’s Next
Israeli authorities have given the United Nations permission for 93 more aid trucks to enter the Gaza Strip. The aid has not yet reached Palestinians in desperate need, according to the United Nations, cited by The Associated Press, which could add further pressure on Netanyahu’s government.