Theo Von’s Trump Interview Strikes a Chord with Young Audiences

Donald Trump has been featured on numerous programs with large viewerships of young men, participating in interviews with influencers, comedians and podcasters outside the typical political media. Around 15 minutes into his discussion with comedian Theo Von, Donald Trump’s conversation took an unexpected turn into subject matter not commonly addressed in a campaign speech. This interview has gained attention from an important group of voters i.e the youngsters of the nation before the election. 

“I had a great brother who taught me a lesson, don’t drink. Don’t drink, and don’t smoke,” the former president Donald Trump said. “I admired so much about him. And he had a problem with alcohol.”

“I’ve been in recovery for most of the past 10 years,” Theo Von replied. “Drugs and alcohol.”

The former president inquired his interviewer about his history of using cocaine. “That’s down and dirty, isn’t it?” Trump asked Theo Von. The video quickly went viral, not only because it’s unusual to hear a presidential candidate openly discussing drug use, but also because Trump, for once, seemed genuinely engaged in a conversation that wasn’t about himself.  The interview sparked widespread discussion about cocaine when Von attempted unsuccessfully to steer the conversation towards Trump’s policies on the opioid epidemic. Trump then shifted the discussion towards drug use.

Theo Von’s interview on YouTube with Trump is filled with so many positive responses and comments on the post. “Hearing a down to earth conversation outside of politics with Donald Trump is surprisingly refreshing and endearing. Really enjoyed listening to this,” a listener commented positively under the podcast video on YouTube. “This is a side to Trump that we don’t often see. Thanks Theo, for broaching the topic,” another listener commented.

Campaign Strategy

Recent polls show that the political gender gap has grown among young people since Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee in July. It seems that the vice president is attracting more young people to her side, but her support among young women has increased more rapidly than her support among young men. 

During August, the Trump campaign informed the press that they are focusing on a specific demographic of voters, including little more than 10% of the electorate in swing states. This group primarily comprises young men, predominantly of white ethnicity but also includes a higher ratio of Latinos and Asian-Americans compared to the overall population. 

The campaign is confident that they can engage these surprising voters by featuring Trump on programs hosted by individuals such as Von, internet personalities Nelk Boys, YouTuber Logan Paul and Adin Ross, a live-streaming gamer who has faced multiple bans from platforms due to violations of rules related to offensive language.These names may not be widely known in mainstream media but they have millions of listeners. Theo Von’s interview with Trump has almost 14 million views on YouTube.