Fox News Digital caught up with CPAC 2025 attendees about how conservatives are capitalizing on the new media landscape. (Fox News Digital )
"I think the diversity of new media would be a great addition to the media landscape, and it's been great to see them in the press briefing room, too. I think that all the new conservative influencers who have been utilizing channels like TikTok and Instagram have really connected with the youth, and obviously, that was a new group in terms of demographics that President Trump was able to reach with this election," CPAC attendee Kellie Lynch told Fox News Digital.
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Trump leaned into the podcast space during his 2024 presidential campaign under the advisement of his Gen Z son, Barron Trump. Trump appeared on Theo Von’s "This Past Weekend," Joe Rogan’s widely popular "The Joe Rogan Experience" and Logan Paul’s "IMPAULSIVE." The episodes amassed millions of views each, with as many as 26 million views on Rogan’s podcast.
"I was watching Joe Rogan," John Taber, a young CPAC attendee, told Fox News Digital. "I listened to President Trump's interview. I listened to JD Vance's interview with Joe Rogan. I think that really spoke to a demographic that's typically not spoken to by politicians, both Republicans and Democrats. They saw hope in that interview. I think that's why a lot of conservatives flocked over to President Trump."
"It goes to show that Donald Trump was very open about his views. He doesn't hide behind anything, and he went on a podcast not even knowing what was going to be asked of him, and he was able to answer," conservative TikToker Harley Richards added.
"It's a great strategy," CPAC attendee Jacob Lee said. "So many young people today are so hooked on podcasts. They love podcasts. They love Joe Rogan. They love the Nelk boys. They love all of these interactive podcast stars that Kamala Harris and the Democrats didn't really go for a lot. They did go on other podcasts that are kind of inflammatory, in my opinion, but they're not engaging. They're not engaging the younger male voter. I think that's what really put Trump over the top with younger men."
President Donald Trump addresses CPAC in National Harbor, Maryland, Feb. 22, 2025. (Reuters/Brian Snyder)
As social media shifts more conservative, legacy media is embracing the change too. Bill Abbott, president and CEO of Great American Media, spoke with Fox News Digital on Friday ahead of his CPAC panel about faith, family and the future of media. Recognizing a gap in the industry three years ago, the former Hallmark CEO launched his family-friendly media company.
Abbott, who attended CPAC to meet his audience where they are, said viewers have always enjoyed conservative media but, now, demands are being met by a growing supply of conservative channels.
"I'm not so sure if it's a shift or people now feel free to speak up," Abbott said. "I think back in 2016 or 2017, there was a tremendous fear you could get canceled if you had freedom of speech or if you actually said something that was positive about the administration or about the president or about being conservative. Those values were very much held in contempt."
"Now, with the election and winning in a landslide, clearly, people feel more comfortable expressing what they really think. So, I think that it's not so much a shift, but I think the majority of the country has always been in this camp," Abbott added.
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"It was never really liberal-dominated," Bode Brewer, a CPAC attendee from Pennsylvania, echoed. "There was no conservative strength to uplift people that were conservative. The conservatives were always there, they were just never activated."
Emma Woodhead is a Production Assistant for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/watch-cpac-attendees-how-republicans-winning-social-media-narrative