Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, is now focusing on a new audience: younger right-leaning individuals, particularly within Gen Z.

This shift is evident in his latest podcast appearances, which include interviews with comedian Theo Von, live streamer Adin Ross, and social media personality Logan Paul.

Additionally, he has engaged with key figures on the right online, such as an extended conversation with X CEO Elon Musk and an appearance on Lex Fridman’s popular podcast, which is favored by conservative audiences online.

All these appearances share a common goal: to connect with young, conservative men.

Trump’s Bet on Gen Z Men May Fall Short

Trump is striving to connect with Gen Z men through these various media engagements, a group where he is currently trailing Vice President Kamala Harris, although by a smaller margin compared to his deficit among Gen Z women.

Gen Z, which includes individuals born between 1997 and 2012, appears to be a target for Trump’s campaign, marking a shift from his previous focus on conservative media outlets like Fox News.

The main risk Trump faces is whether the mobilization of young voters could swing the election in his favor and if he can secure enough support among them. While a high turnout among my age group typically hurts Trump, his efforts to engage Gen Z men might make the situation less dire.

If young voter turnout is robust and he captures a substantial portion, Trump might benefit from winning over his most favorable young voter demographic—white men. However, this outcome hinges on several conditions.

Gen Z is an Engaged Voting Generation

In the 2020 election, about 50% of voters aged 18 to 29 cast their ballots. This trend continued as this demographic showed up in high numbers during the 2022 midterm elections.

Since then, over 8 million new voters have entered this age group since 2020, which is troubling for Trump since Harris has a 26-point advantage among those voters.

While Trump’s outreach to this group could help alleviate his losses among youth voters, it is likely to only resonate with those already aligned with him.

Trump’s Focus Should Align with His Supportive Demographics

The Republican Party remains popular among older generations, and while some young voters may be undecided, Trump does not have the appeal needed to sway left-leaning young voters.

A candidate like Nikki Haley, who previously served as the U.N. ambassador and as a governor, might have been more effective in reaching out to these voters given her moderate stance.

However, Trump has been nominated, despite facing significant challenges in reshaping his image among younger voters who have grown up during his political career. Young people either admire him or strongly oppose him, with a considerable bias towards the latter.

Trump’s initiatives to regain support from younger voters may ultimately be inadequate for making a significant impact in a generation that largely disapproves of him.

Dace Potas is an opinion columnist for YSL News and graduated with a degree in political science from DePaul University.