In the midst of the presidential election season, influencers are making their voices heard, with many expressing support for former president Donald Trump while few have vocally endorsed President Joe Biden. Influencers such as Bryce Hall, Jake Paul, and FaZe Banks have recently signaled their support for Trump, while major influencers have remained relatively silent in professing support for Biden, particularly after his lackluster debate performance on June 27.
The White House has made efforts to court online celebrities, inviting dozens of content creators to briefings and creating a briefing space specifically for influencers. However, despite Biden’s attempts to woo online personalities, there has been a noticeable lack of support for him, even from those his team has directly reached out to. Some who previously endorsed Biden in 2020 have turned critical of the president in recent months or have chosen to remain silent.
Progressive advocacy organization Gen-Z for Change, initially founded as TikTok for Biden, has not endorsed the president for re-election this time around. Young people who lean more left-leaning have also been vocal against Biden online, criticizing him for his backing of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and his controversial climate policies.
While there are influencers who favor Biden, they may be hesitant to speak out due to fear of criticism from both the right and the further left. The online stars who have endorsed Trump, on the other hand, have garnered significant attention and support. Trump’s resilience after surviving an assassination attempt inspired an outpouring of praise from major influencers, including some who typically avoid discussing politics.
Trump’s entertainment value and his background as a reality TV star have contributed to his popularity among young people, regardless of their political beliefs. Trump’s TikTok account has surpassed Biden’s following, highlighting the stark difference in their social media presence.
It is worth noting that some influencers who do not support Trump as a politician have made jokes or expressed reluctant praise for how he handled the assassination attempt. However, the overall trend among influencers leans towards supporting Trump.