Right-Wing Podcasters Turn on Trump’s ‘Macho’ Image

The midterm results have sharpened criticism of Donald Trump among right-wing podcasters who supported him in 2024. The Christian podcast NXR declared that MAGA was “effeminate” and “for losers,” while Tucker Carlson said men who backed Trump had expected a vigorous, masculine leader but instead saw a vain and indecisive president.

The shift comes alongside a steep drop in support among young white men. Just 43% voted for a Republican House candidate in this month’s midterms, compared with 63% who backed Trump in 2024.

Trump has also featured less often on prominent manosphere shows. A review of nine podcasts that hosted Trump or JD Vance in 2024 by Media Matters found that Trump references averaged 35 per episode at the start of the year, falling to five during the run-up to the midterms.

Seth Simons, who follows comedy’s rightward shift, said hosts had noticed Trump losing cultural appeal and might support a Republican without his political liabilities. Patrick Bet-David and Steven Crowder spoke approvingly of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis following the vote.

David Sacks, who formerly served as Trump’s White House AI and crypto czar, said on the All-In podcast that Republicans had lost a large part of their base among podcast hosts. Joe Rogan’s favorability among young men has fallen 11 points, and Carlson’s has dropped 12, according to the Speaking With American Men project.

After the midterms, Trump offered UFC chief Dana White the press secretary job, then said he was joking. Stephen Miller, who took over as chief of staff from Susie Wiles, told aides that winning back young men would be a focus of his tenure.

Trump’s Young-Male Coalition Frays as Podcasters Turn Away

The weakening of Donald Trump’s support among young men is now visible among the right-wing podcasters who helped elevate him. After Republican losses in the midterms, NXR called MAGA “effeminate” and “for losers,” while Tucker Carlson said Trump had failed to match the vigorous, masculine image his male supporters expected.

The electoral figures underline the problem: 43% of young white men supported a Republican contender for the House this month, down from the 63% who backed Trump in 2024. Favorability has also slipped for influential voices in the same media sphere: Joe Rogan is down 11 points among young men, and Carlson is down 12.

Trump’s name had already become less common on nine manosphere podcasts that hosted him or JD Vance in 2024. Media Matters’ findings show that episode mentions averaged 35 at the beginning of the year, then declined to five during the weeks leading up to the midterms. Seth Simons said hosts had recognized that Trump was losing cultural appeal and could prefer a Republican without his political liabilities.

Some have already praised Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. David Sacks, who formerly served as Trump’s White House AI and crypto czar, acknowledged on the All-In podcast that Republicans had lost a major part of their base among podcast hosts. Trump’s offer of the press secretary job to UFC chief Dana White, later described as a joke, came after the election. Stephen Miller has told aides that bringing young men back will be a focus of his tenure.

Podcast Hosts’ Break With Trump Puts GOP Media Reach at Risk

Republicans are confronting the cost of losing the podcasters who helped carry their message to young men. David Sacks, who formerly served as Trump’s White House AI and crypto czar, said the party had lost “all the podcast bros” and a huge part of its base. The midterm results and the hosts’ reaction have put that weakness on display.

NXR attacked MAGA as “effeminate” and “for losers.” Tucker Carlson said men who voted for Trump expected a vigorous, masculine leader but instead saw someone vain and indecisive. The criticism is a sharp reversal from the support Trump received from prominent right-wing voices in 2024.

Young white men’s support for Republican House candidates fell to 43% this month, compared with the 63% who voted for Trump in 2024. Trump also appeared less often on nine manosphere shows that hosted him or JD Vance in 2024: Media Matters’ review found that references declined from an average of 35 per episode near the start of the year to five during the weeks leading up to the midterms.

The party’s reliance on this podcast circuit makes the break especially consequential. Rogan’s favorability among young men has fallen 11 points, and Carlson’s has dropped 12. Patrick Bet-David and Steven Crowder voiced support for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis following the vote, while Sacks said Republicans needed to pay close attention to podcast hosts because the party depended on them for media reach.

Trump offered UFC chief Dana White the press secretary job days after the midterms, then said he was joking. Stephen Miller, the new chief of staff, has told aides that winning back young men will be a priority.