“The ‘Manosphere Election’: Scott Galloway on How Masculinity Shaped the 2024 Vote”

In a thought-provoking analysis, Scott Galloway, a marketing professor at New York University, offered his take on the recent election, describing it as a “referendum on each party’s aspirational vision of masculinity.” Speaking to Anderson Cooper on CNN, Galloway attributed much of the election’s dynamics to how candidates and campaigns resonated with certain ideals of manhood.

His insights shed light on a notable shift in political focus, where male identity and aspirations played a pivotal role, with figures like Elon Musk embodying these ideals in the eyes of many young men. Galloway highlighted Musk’s unique appeal, labeling him an “aspirational role model for most young men globally,” whether people consider that positive or not.

Musk’s achievements—launching satellites into space, revolutionizing the automotive industry, and amassing tremendous wealth—represent a brand of success that Galloway argues appeals to young men seeking a strong figure of modern masculinity. “He’s provocative and entertaining,” Galloway noted, underscoring Musk’s allure beyond financial success. Musk, he suggested, epitomizes a personality that young men view as a model for self-determined, high-stakes ambition.

According to Galloway, former President Donald Trump astutely leveraged this cultural undercurrent during his campaign. “The right—Trump, to his credit, embraced the manosphere,” Galloway said, crediting Trump’s campaign with understanding and utilizing this appeal effectively. “I would argue this was the manosphere election,” he added.

Trump’s team aligned him with influential platforms within this space, particularly by engaging on major podcasts hosted by Joe Rogan and Lex Fridman, which are widely popular among young male audiences. Rogan’s podcast, for example, attracted a staggering 40 million views on YouTube and an additional 15 million downloads, generating a cumulative audience similar to the viewership of the entire MLB World Series.

“That’s 55 million people who saw Donald Trump for three hours,” Galloway emphasized. This reach would have required extensive appearances across multiple prime-time news networks to achieve the same impact. Galloway argued that by tapping into this demographic, Trump amplified his influence among young men and positioned his messaging effectively.

Galloway observed that Trump’s messaging, especially on financial prospects for young men, resonated deeply. Trump’s promises to improve economic conditions, particularly for young men struggling to leave their parents’ homes or secure stable employment, struck a chord. “This was more the testosterone election than it was a referendum on bodily autonomy,” Galloway remarked, suggesting that economic empowerment for young men took precedence in the minds of these voters over other prominent social issues.

Reflecting on the Democratic National Convention, Galloway pointed out a conspicuous absence: young men. He noted that while the convention highlighted a variety of special interest groups, “There were no young men.” Galloway suggested this was a significant oversight, given the challenges young men face in modern society.

Citing statistics, he noted that young men are disproportionately affected by mental health and social issues—four times more likely to die by suicide, three times more likely to have addiction issues, and 12 times more likely to be incarcerated. Additionally, just one in three young men are in a relationship, and fewer own homes compared to single women, with young women out-earning men in urban areas under 30.

Young men are, as Galloway put it, “a group that has fallen further, faster than any in American history over the last 20 years.” Their struggles, he argued, make them more susceptible to political messages promising economic recovery and independence. “That’s why young men were among the groups that swung toward Trump,” he noted.

Social justice issues and global events, he added, often pale in comparison to families when their sons are struggling to secure jobs and independence. As political parties strategize for the future, Galloway’s comments underscore the importance of recognizing and addressing the aspirations and anxieties of young men—a demographic that, he suggests, has been both overlooked and underestimated in its influence on the electoral landscape.