The 2024 election heralded a transformation in the sphere of political campaigning, as podcast interviews became a key strategy for candidates to connect with voters. The pivot towards podcasts from conventional news channels and television interviews was especially apparent in President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign. In comparison, his opponent, Kamala Harris, could only muster sporadic forays into the podcasting world, making her seem outdated and distanced from modern trends.
This shift in campaign dynamics was a blatant departure from the past elections’ heavy emphasis on television appearances, which is a testament to the forward-thinking approach adopted by Trump. The presidential election of 2024 thus became synonymous with online influence, sparking conversations around the election being ‘the first internet election’. It’s hard not to notice the difference, given that even traditional Democrats kept their distance from this emerging form of media engagement.
Donald Trump’s appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience in late October of 2024, for instance, skyrocketed in popularity becoming one of the show’s most viewed episodes, a feat Kamala Harris never came close to. This was one of the many ways Trump effectively engaged his target audience proving that he had an eye for popular culture and the direction the media landscape was heading.
The array of podcasts that Trump featured on were tailored to reach an audience mainly consisting of male voters. This strategy, which was conspicuously absent from his opponent’s campaign, included appearances on shows like Flagrant and the PBD Podcast. The range of subjects discussed encompassed pressing issues such as medical marijuana, artificial intelligence and in vitro fertilization.
During one particular interview, Trump shared his motivations for running for president: his concerns over inadequate border control and unfavourable trade agreements with countries like China that were ‘badly ripping us off’. This statement served as an echo of his sentiments from an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 1988, demonstrating the consistency in his beliefs and vision for the nation. Meanwhile, his opponents, like Kamala Harris, danced around the subject showing an evident lack of decisive stance.
In an unprecedented yet highly strategic move, Trump decided to dodge the first Republican primary presidential debate in 2023. Instead, he chose to speak directly to the people in a candid interview. During this one-on-one interaction, he respectfully expressed his disagreement with several of his primary opponents, including indicative comments on the capabilities of former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson.
As the election drew closer, Trump disclosed that even his youngest son, Barron Trump, played an advisory role in his campaign. His son offered guidance on popular podcast hosts, a contribution that yet again reflected the Trump campaign’s innovative approach to embracing modern trends. Consequently, Trump went on the highly followed podcast This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von.
On his appearance on This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von, Trump further amplified his realist persona by discussing his personal choices to abstain from drinking and smoking. These candid revelations contributed to the embracement of his authenticity, despite attempted smear campaigning by opponents.
Vice President-elect J.D. Vance made a substantial contribution to the campaign as well, utilizing podcast platforms to detail the winning ‘divide and conquer’ strategy implemented by Trump. Vance’s appearances, once again, served to illustrate the Trump Administration’s savvy use of new media platforms, while the Democratic opposition remained largely silent.
Following Trump’s victory, Dana White, ally to Trump and President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, expressed his gratitude to each podcast host who opened their platform to Trump, allowing him to connect with voters. Theo Von, among others, responded by posting footage of White’s recognition and congratulating Trump on his win, underlining the impact of these podcasts on the successful campaign.
The victory led to a surge in the reach of podcasting on other platforms, courtesy of the Joe Rogan Experience’s expanded availability on Apple and YouTube. This led to a surge in listener engagement as the podcasting experiences refreshed the landscape of media consumption making it more inclusive and diversified than traditional broadcasting channels.
Lending more credence to the power of the podcast phenomenon, Donald Trump Jr. began toying with the idea of opening up the White House press briefing room to influential podcast hosts and supporters of President Trump. This initiative would fundamentally disrupt traditional journalism and underline Trump’s consistent commitment to adaptation and progress.
With this move, Donald Trump Jr. aims to fundamentally transform the face of journalism as we know it. Instead of solely being the domain of traditional journalists, the press briefing room would then serve as an interface between the people and the president, integrating the newer forms of media into the political discourse.
The influence of these groundbreaking developments in the 2024 elections on the future of political campaigns is clear. The successful facilitation of podcast interviews by the Trump administration might mark the standard method for future campaigns, reducing the effectiveness of the previous singular focus on traditional television interviews.
The 2024 presidential campaign acted as a litmus test for the reaction of voters towards new media outlets. The widespread popularity of Trump’s podcast appearances was a clear indication that the people’s preferred method of receiving information is gradually shifting. The dynamic campaigning approach by Trump contrasted heavily with the static, traditional approach of Democrats.
As the inauguration of President Trump in January 2025 nears, it is evident that the landscape of American political campaigns has changed forever thanks to the innovative tactics that Trump and his campaign brought to the table. While the Democrats continued to bank on outdated campaign methods, Trump’s fresh approach resonated with the voters, validating the effectiveness of modern communication strategies.