Young voters who backed Trump in 2024 are now staying home
Polls show a steep drop in confidence among men under 35, and conservative podcasters are speaking less about the president as midterm elections approach.
By Jason Wood ·
A 20-year-old political science student in Binghamton, N.Y., is deciding whether to skip the ballot box entirely next week. Nicholas Aparicio, who served as the president of his local College of Republicans chapter, voted for Donald Trump in 2024 based on the promise of economic improvement. That confidence has eroded, leaving him unsure if he will participate in the upcoming midterms.
"I feel like we got duped," Aparicio said. He cited rising costs for gas, housing, and employment as primary drivers of his disillusionment. For him, the prospect of starting a family feels out of reach.
Aparicio represents a demographic that played a major role in the 2024 election. Right-leaning podcasters, including Joe Rogan and Tucker Carlson, helped amplify the president's message to young men. Their endorsement contributed to Trump's re-election victory.
Recent data suggests this alliance is fraying. John Della Volpe, director of polling at the Harvard Institute, reported a 26-point Democratic lead among younger voters. Only nine per cent of young Americans believe the country is on the right track, while 69 per cent report fear about the future. Among young men, just 31 per cent say they will definitely vote.
The shift is visible in the media habits of this group. David Sasaki, a director at the American Institute for Boys and Men, noted that Gen Z men often consume news through creators like Rogan, Theo Von, and Andrew Schulz. These figures fill a mentorship void for many young men who lack male role models in their daily lives.
Conservative creators are distancing themselves from the president. In April, Carlson expressed regret for endorsing Trump in 2024, stating he was "tormented" by the decision. Schulz previously admitted on his podcast that he regretted voting for the president. Rogan has publicly criticized Trump twice this year, once regarding a White House UFC fight and again over the war in Iran.
A Wall Street Journal study quantified this withdrawal. Mentions of Trump by right-leaning podcasters have dropped 70 per cent since the 2024 campaign. Reporter Neil Mehta identified two sharp declines in coverage: one immediately after the election and another following the start of the Iran war.
Theo Von's recent interview with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani marked a symbolic break. Sasaki noted that Von had previously hosted Trump, but the appearance of a left-leaning mayor discussing affordability signaled a change in the conversation. CBS News exit polls indicated that roughly 60,000 Americans who voted for Trump in 2024 supported Mamdani in 2025.
Aparicio pointed to specific policy failures that damaged trust, such as the handling of the Epstein files. He believes the economy has worsened and that U.S. involvement in the Iran war is straining households. "I want to emphasize the point that young men should not be taken for granted by the Republicans," he said.
Sasaki warned that assuming this demographic remains locked into the MAGA movement is an error. He noted that this group is deeply concerned about job security and home ownership. The next election may hinge on whether these voters return to the polls or remain absent.
Source: CBC News
