Former President Barack Obama remains the most popular political figure among young men, and is viewed more favorably than people including President Donald Trump and Joe Rogan, according to a new poll.
Newsweek reached out to the White House, a spokesperson for Rogan and Obama’s office for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Young men shifted rightward in the 2024 presidential race, giving Trump a plurality of their vote over former Vice President Kamala Harris, according to exit polling data. This represents a shift from previous elections, when they were viewed as a more solidly Democratic demographic. Obama’s enduring approval could signal how Democrats could build back support among younger men ahead of upcoming elections, when they will likely be a key voter group.
What to Know
In 2024, men between the ages of 18 and 29 gave Trump 49 percent of their vote, and Harris 48 percent support, according to CNN exit polls. That marks an improvement in Trump’s performance compared to 2020, when that same group backed former President Joe Biden by 11 points in the 2020 election (52 percent to 41 percent).
A new poll, conducted by Democrats’ group Speaking With American Men and first reported by Puck News, showed that Obama remains popular among the demographic. It found that 56 percent of respondents viewed Obama positively. YouTuber MrBeast follows with 55 percent favorability.
A smaller plurality, 53 percent, view Rogan, a popular podcaster, favorably, while only 46 percent view Trump favorably. Thirty-three percent said they view Vice President JD Vance favorably.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, is viewed favorably by 39 percent of respondents. Andrew Tate, an influencer who denies charges of rape in the U.K and Romania, is viewed favorably by 35 percent.
Meanwhile, 26 percent said they view California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who is widely seen as a potential presidential candidate, positively, while 17 percent view Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem positively, the poll found.
It surveyed 3,460 young men between the ages of 16 and 29 from October 28 to November 6, 2025.
Trump’s media strategy of appearing on podcasts popular with Gen Z men, including that hosted by Rogan, has been attributed with bolstering his performance among young men in 2024.
What People Are Saying
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle, when reached by Newsweek for comment on the poll Thursday: “President Trump was overwhelmingly elected by nearly 80 million Americans to deliver on his popular and common sense agenda. The President has already made historic progress not only in America but around the world. It is not surprising that President Trump remains the most dominant figure in American politics.”
The Speaking With American Men report reads: “In the wake of the 2024 election, many observers interpreted changes among young men as a political shift. Our findings point to a deeper and more personal reality. Young men are first reassessing identity, belonging, and their place in the world; political attitudes are following, not leading. While many continue to support Democratic-aligned policies, growing numbers feel disconnected from political leadership and unsure that anyone in power understands their lived experience.”
President Donald Trump said on Truth Social in November: “So many Fake Polls are being shown by the Radical Left Media, all slanted heavily toward Democrats and Far Left Wingers…Fake News will never change, they are evil and corrupt but, as I look around my beautiful surroundings, I say to myself, ‘Oh, look, I’m sitting in the Oval Office!'”
What Happens Next
Young men are likely to remain a critical group targeted by both Democrats and Republicans. The 2026 midterms in November will be the Democrats’ next test as to whether they are able to win back young male voters.
