President-elect Donald Trump has experienced a significant boost in favorability among young Americans, according to a recent YouGov poll.
Conducted from November 17 to 19, the survey revealed that 57 percent of Americans aged 18 to 29 now hold a favorable view of Trump, marking a net favorability increase of 19 points in that demographic since the YouGov poll on September 10 and 11.
While his favorability remains lower among women and older voters, his gains in the 18-29 group—which accounted for 16 percent of the 2024 electorate, according to The Economist/YouGov—represent a notable shift. The poll surveyed 1,590 U.S. adults and has a margin of error of ±2.5 percent.
“Young people carried President Trump to victory. Make no mistake, a profound and historic generational realignment is underway,” Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, said on X, formerly Twitter.
Jim WATSON / AFP
Kirk, along with Trump’s youngest son, Barron, played a pivotal role in mobilizing Trump’s support among young voters, emphasizing generational change and targeting a younger, predominantly male audience.
Trump’s edge among young voters has been credited to his campaign’s strategic focus on connecting with younger audiences through non-traditional media. Podcasts and alternative platforms, often centering on issues like economic freedom, government accountability and cultural identity, were at the heart of Trump’s outreach efforts.
During the presidential campaign, Trump appeared on numerous podcasts and streaming shows, including Lex Fridman’s podcast, Theo Von’s show, Adin Ross’ and Logan Paul’s streams, Tim Pool’s podcast and the Nelk Boys’ YouTube channel. He also participated in a podcast-style interview with Elon Musk on X before his three-hour appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, the nation’s most popular podcast.
The efforts particularly resonated with young men, a key target audience for the campaign. Polling data revealed a significant gender divide: 58 percent of men held a favorable view of Trump to 45 percent of women.
Among all adults, 51 percent viewed Trump favorably, while 46 percent viewed him unfavorably, resulting in a net favorability rating of +5 points. Voters aged 18-29 showed the strongest support, with a net favorability of +19 points, compared to +3 points among the 30-44 and 45-64 age groups. In contrast, voters aged 65 and older gave Trump a net rating of -3 points, underscoring a clear generational divide.
Trump’s numbers also benefited from positive public perception of his Cabinet nominations. Marco Rubio, for secretary of state, has a net approval rating of +19 points, with 46 percent approval overall. Tulsi Gabbard, as director of national intelligence, holds a 42 percent approval rating, reflecting a 9-point increase. Similarly, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., for secretary of Health and Human Services, enjoys a 41 percent approval rating, marking a net increase of 9 points.
Vice President-elect JD Vance has also seen his approval rating improve, reaching a net rating of +2 percent with 43 percent approval—his highest to date and the first time his approval has exceeded his unfavorability.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are grappling with declining approval ratings following their electoral defeat. Biden’s job approval has dropped to 37 percent, with 57 percent disapproving—a clear sign of public dissatisfaction. Harris has also seen her favorability decline, standing at 46 percent favorable and 53 percent unfavorable, for a net rating of -7 points.
