Eighteen-year-old Barron Trump played a crucial role in his father’s 2024 comeback, leveraging his knowledge of podcasts popular with young men to help attract new voters. President-elect Donald Trump’s youngest son advised his father on appearing on podcasts that cater to Gen Z men, a strategy that proved instrumental in reaching this key demographic and securing victory on Election Day.

A freshman at New York University and a first-time voter, Barron Trump told his father that young people are not turning to traditional news outlets like CNN or Fox News. Instead, his peers prefer podcasts for both entertainment and information. Recognizing this shift, the campaign shifted its media strategy, leading to President-elect Trump appearing on more than a dozen podcasts, including popular shows like The Joe Rogan Experience and Impaulsive with Logan Paul.

"Did Barron Trump win the election? Double-digit gains in young voters prove Trump's flurry of podcast appearances paid off" – Blaze Media #SmartNews https://t.co/QE9pfIOj4R

— BJ Rodrigue (@rodrigue_bj) November 7, 2024

Barron was instrumental in connecting his father to these shows, which focus on younger male audiences and often feature politically incorrect humor. These platforms offered President-elect Trump a chance to reach a demographic that helped him in the election. One of Trump’s first podcast interviews was with Logan Paul in June, where the hour-long discussion generated over 6 million views—a testament to Barron’s influence and strategic foresight.

The election has shown that the future of political campaigning might increasingly lean on influencers, podcasters, and digital media strategists like Barron Trump, rather than solely on traditional media and ground campaigns. #Election2024 #TrumpVictory pic.twitter.com/RJw3t6OaxQ

— Burning Box (@BurningBox04) November 7, 2024

In August, Trump also appeared on Twitch with Adin Ross, another social media personality favored by young viewers. During the stream, Trump credited his sons for making him aware of Ross’s popularity. Barron’s insights continued to guide the campaign, with Trump relying on his youngest son to identify which podcasts were most influential throughout the election cycle.

The strategy paid off, as exit polls showed that nearly half of men under 30 voted for Trump. This marked a significant shift from 2020 when Democrats had a 24-point advantage with young voters. In 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris’s lead shrank to just 11 points, demonstrating Trump’s increased appeal to younger voters.

"Barron Trump is a very bright 18-year-old who played a big part in his father’s stunning victory". – Nigel Farage MP Leader of Reform UK. MP for Clacton. 🇬🇧

At Mar-A-Lago, waiting for the results of the Presidential Election. pic.twitter.com/QytjXKuhGk

— CR 🌷 (@CarmenInUSA) November 7, 2024

Trump also gained record support from Latino and Black male voters. Exit polls indicated that 54% of Latino men voted for Trump, compared to 44% for Harris, while nearly 3 in 10 young Black men under 45 supported him—a significant increase from 2020. The shift reflects the impact of the campaign’s focus on alternative media and Barron’s role in shaping the strategy.