WASHINGTON — It might sound like an odd match. Inside his Mar-a-Lago residence, former President Donald Trump sat alongside a 23-year-old internet star famous for streaming video games.

“We’re going to get some fantastic ratings today,” Trump, now 78, remarked to host Adin Ross at the beginning of a 77-minute casual livestream interview last month that garnered 2.6 million views on YouTube.

This was not a random break from the 2024 campaign trail for the Republican candidate. The young, predominantly male audience that Ross commands — especially those who typically avoid political content — made this livestream an excellent platform for Trump.

In his quest to counteract Democratic nominee Kamala Harris’ edge with female voters, Trump has focused on appealing to younger male voters by embracing his particular interpretation of masculinity. Historically projecting himself as a figure of strength, Trump is reinforcing that image in this election to attract this often-ignored demographic.

This voting bloc has been dubbed “the bro vote.”

To achieve success in November, Trump’s campaign has pinpointed undecided young male voters under 50 years of age, representing about 11% of the electorate in crucial battleground states, as highlighted in a campaign analysis first reported by the Washington Post. While this group is mainly white, Trump is also aiming to win over young Black, Latino, and Asian American voters.

Conversely, the Harris campaign is presenting a contrasting image of masculinity to attract young male voters who have increasingly leaned towards Republican candidates.

Tim Walz, the Minnesota governor and Harris’ running mate, shares stories about his experiences as a high school football coach, his time in the National Guard, and his roles as a devoted father. Meanwhile, Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, shows a different perspective on manliness by supporting his wife, even when it requires pausing his own career.

“Masculinity is a significant theme in this election, perhaps more prominently than ever before,” remarked Jackson Katz, an expert on gender and masculinity who has just released a film, “The Man Card: 50 Years of Gender, Power and the American Presidency.”

“Gender issues are always inherent in American presidential campaigns, but they become especially visible when a woman is on the ballot. Her candidacy highlights aspects that have always existed,” Katz explained.

The Significant Gender Divide of 2024

Clashing views of masculinity have emerged in an election marked by a significant gender divide.

A recent YSL News/Suffolk University poll conducted among likely voters in Pennsylvania — a key battleground state — reveals that Harris leads among female voters 56%-39%, while Trump has the support of 53% of male voters compared to Harris’ 41%. Harris’ 17-point advantage with women, contrasted with Trump’s 12-point lead among men, accounts for her overall 49%-46% lead in the state.

The gap is even broader among younger voters. A national YSL News/Suffolk University poll conducted this month indicates Harris leads female voters aged 18 to 34 by 63%-27%, whereas Trump holds a lead among young male voters in the same age group at 45%-37%.

If she wins, Harris would make history as the first female president of the United States. She is vigorously campaigning on restoring abortion rights after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022 — a topic that has resonated with many women voters, including independents and some Republicans.

“It’s clear they just don’t trust women. But we do trust women,” Harris stated during an abortion rights speech in Atlanta on Friday.

A representative from Trump’s campaign dismissed any notion that they are “giving up on female voters,” highlighting issues like the economy and immigration that they believe resonate with women voters.

In a bid to connect with young male voters, Trump has made appearances on Ross’s live stream, participated in podcasts hosted by comedian Theo Von, and interacted with controversial figure Logan Paul. He even attended a UFC event and a Formula One race. Trump’s endorsements of bitcoin, which appeals primarily to young white males, and his plans to attend the Alabama-Georgia college football game later this month further indicate his strategy.

“We’re going to make this country incredibly strong and great,” Trump stated last month during his livestream with Ross. He conveyed to the young viewers, “You will love your life and find success.”

Trump’s interpretation of masculinity was highly visible during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, held in July prior to President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race.

As Trump made his entrance on the third night of the convention, James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World” thundered throughout the venue. He spoke against a backdrop featuring his name, “Trump,” in large letters, wearing a bandage over his ear just days after surviving an assassination attempt at a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Supporters waved signs proclaiming messages like “Make America Strong Again” and “Trump = success, Biden = failure.”

Wrestling star Hulk Hogan energized the audience by ripping off his shirt, while Kid Rock performed a rock-rap anthem inspired by Trump’s assassination attempt, shouting “Fight! Fight!” with his fist raised, mimicking Trump’s response before being swiftly escorted away by Secret Service agents after the incident.

“The entire four-day event was a grand display of exaggerated masculinity,” remarked Katz. “It was overt and unmistakable.”

‘Nobody likes weakness’

Throughout the campaign, Vance has made derogatory comments about women and teachers without children. He has presented himself in his book “Hillbilly Elegy” as someone who has triumphed over poverty and personal challenges in Appalachia.

Timothy Denhollander, a 22-year-old who attended a Trump rally in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, sported a Trump cowboy hat and a shirt depicting a bloodied Trump with his fist raised in defiance after an assassination attempt.

Trump’s charm lies partially in his endorsement of traditional gender roles, according to Denhollander, a devout Christian living with his parents and 13 siblings in Pittstown, New Jersey.

“As a Christian, a man is meant to lead the household,” explained Denhollander, who works cutting grass at solar energy sites.

“As a Christian, a man is meant to lead the household,” Denhollander reiterated.

Billie Carbone, a 63-year-old retired teacher’s aide and Trump supporter from Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania, believes that Trump is attracting more male supporters “because he communicates like a genuine man.”

“He expresses his true opinions,” Carbone said as she waited for the rally in Wilkes-Barre to commence. “To thrive, one must speak assertively.” She added that “showing weakness” can be equated to “being like blood in the water.”

“Nobody really appreciates weakness,” she concluded.

Emhoff: ‘Women in this country are fed up with weak men’

The Harris campaign is showcasing a new notion of masculinity, represented by two leading male figures: Walz, the straightforward Midwest governor from a working-class background, and Emhoff, a former high-powered entertainment lawyer who, as second gentleman, serves as Harris’ primary advocate.

During the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Walz’s former students and high school football players introduced the vice-presidential nominee to a wider audience. Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar described Walz as “the dad in plaid.” Additionally, there was a touching moment when Walz’s son, Gus, was seen crying with joy in the audience, enthusiastically shouting, “That’s my dad! That’s my dad!”

Walz has been prominently utilized by the Harris campaign in key Rust Belt states like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan, which are critical for the election. This strategy aims to appeal to disenchanted white blue-collar voters who have drifted away from the Democratic Party.

In his introduction at the DNC, Emhoff depicted himself as the goofy dad—the one who awkwardly left a voicemail on Harris’s phone early in their relationship. He also praised his wife’s strength, emphasizing her background as a former prosecutor and California attorney general who took on powerful adversaries to ensure justice.

“We recognize that cowards exhibit weakness, and Kamala Harris can detect weakness,” Emhoff asserted during his convention address. Since then, he has consistently described Harris as a “bad ass warrior,” asserting that true masculinity involves defending women’s rights and reproductive choices.

At a recent fundraising event in Brooklyn, Emhoff expressed to supporters: “Women in this country are fed up with weak men who attempt to strip away their fundamental rights and then gaslight them. We’re done with it. And the women in this country will never bow down to Donald Trump.”

Is this strategy a gamble for Trump’s campaign?

Michael Kimmel, a retired sociology professor from Stony Brook University and author of “Angry White Men,” noted that “various models of masculinity are being showcased” in this election. He pointed out that with Walz and Emhoff, “you have examples of men who are openly affectionate fathers and supporters of women.”

“There’s definitely a contest for the support of young men, especially those in Gen Z, happening,” Kimmel explained, noting that Republicans have correctly noticed an increasing gender disparity where young women lean more left politically than their male counterparts.

A recent Gallup poll revealed that 40% of women aged 18 to 29 identify as “liberal” or “very liberal,” up from 28% between 2001 and 2007. On the flip side, only 25% of men in the same age bracket identify as “liberal” or “very liberal,” with that figure remaining steady over the past few years.

“The Republicans perceive this as a significant opportunity for them. Therefore, they are promoting a more playful ‘frat boy’ style to appeal to young males,” Kimmel added.

However, relying on the male vote carries certain risks as historically, a larger number of women participate in elections than men do. According to the Center for American Women and Politics, in the 2020 presidential election, 82.2 million women cast their votes, compared to 72.5 million men.

Polls indicate that Trump is not securing young male voters by the same margin that Harris leads among female voters.

Donye White, a 35-year-old barber at Cuts & Shaves Barbershop in Allentown, Pennsylvania, shared that he voted for Trump in 2016, skipped the 2020 election, but intends to support Harris in 2024 due to the historical significance of potentially electing the first woman president.

“I’m simply voting for her because it’s a first for us,” White explained. “It’s not just that she’s a Black person, but also a woman. We’ve tried nearly 50 white men. What’s the harm in letting someone else have a chance?”

“It’s astounding that we’re in 2024 and still talking about ‘firsts’ in America,” he added.

Trump has previously triumphed over a female presidential candidate. This time, he may need to rally support from male voters to achieve victory once more.

Contributors: Zac Anderson. You can reach Joey Garrison on X, formerly known as Twitter, @joeygarrison.