Trump support among young men and right-wing podcasters slips before midterms
Polling data and media analysis show a 70% drop in mentions of the president on conservative shows, coinciding with voter fatigue among men who backed his 2024 campaign.
By Fatou Mitchell ·
The number of times major conservative podcasters mentioned Donald Trump has fallen by 70% since the 2024 presidential election. This decline coincides with a sharp drop in enthusiasm among young men who supported the president’s campaign. A new analysis by The Wall Street Journal tracked these mentions, finding two distinct drops in frequency. The first occurred immediately after the election, and the second followed the start of the war in Iran.
John Della Volpe, director of polling at the Harvard Institute, reports a 26-point lead for Democrats over Republicans among younger voters. His recent poll found that only 9% of young Americans believe the country is moving in the right direction. Meanwhile, 69% of this demographic expressed fear about the future. Only 31% of young men said they would definitely vote in the upcoming midterms. Della Volpe noted that these voters helped Trump win the previous election, and their potential absence could alter the outcome for House and Senate seats.
Nicholas Aparicio, a 20-year-old political science student in Binghamton, N.Y., voted for Trump in 2024. He said he believed the president would improve the economy and his personal prospects. Aparicio described the appeal at the time: “The fact that he was so personable and he was this entertainer, it felt good to have him in your corner.” Now, Aparicio said, “I feel like we got duped.” He is president of the College of Republicans Binghamton Chapter but is unsure if he will vote in next week’s midterms.
Prominent right-leaning media figures have also distanced themselves from the White House. Andrew Schulz, a comedian and podcaster, said on his show Flagrant last year that he regretted voting for Trump. In April, Tucker Carlson, host of The Tucker Carlson Show, apologized for misleading people in his 2024 endorsement. Carlson said he will be “tormented” by that decision. Joe Rogan, the most popular podcaster in the U.S., has publicly criticized Trump twice this year. His complaints focused on a UFC fight held at the White House and the ongoing conflict in Iran.
David Sasaki, a director at the American Institute for Boys and Men, explained that young men often lack mentors in their real lives and turn to online personalities for guidance. Sasaki said these figures fill a void and hold significant influence over voters. He noted that authenticity is the primary currency in modern politics. CBS News exit polling data showed that roughly 60,000 Americans who voted for Trump in 2024 voted for New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani in 2025. Sasaki cited this as evidence that the demographic is not locked into one party.
Aparicio pointed to the handling of the Epstein files as a key moment of disillusionment. He said Trump campaigned on releasing the files but then told followers they did not exist once he took office. The student also cited the economy and U.S. involvement in the Middle East as factors driving his shift. “The way things are going, I really don’t feel sure about that,” Aparicio said regarding his ability to afford a home and raise a family. CBC News reached out to Rogan, Von, Schulz and Carlson for comment but did not receive responses in time for publication.
