Fact Check: Trump Claims TikTok Helped Him Win Youth Vote by 34 Points
What We Know
In December 2024, former President Donald Trump claimed, "I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok, because I won youth by 34 points" during a press conference (source). This assertion came despite evidence indicating that he did not win the youth vote in the 2024 election. Exit polls showed that Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate, won the under-30 demographic by a significant margin, with a reported 54% to 43% victory over Trump (source). Furthermore, a detailed analysis from Tufts University indicated that Harris defeated Trump among voters under 30 by 51% to 47%, and among those aged 30-44 by 50% to 47% (source).
Trump's claim appears to be a gross exaggeration, as the data suggests he actually lost ground among younger voters compared to previous elections. While he did make some gains in this demographic, they were modest—around a net gain of 13 points, not the 34 points he claimed (source).
Analysis
Trump's assertion about winning the youth vote by 34 points lacks credible support and contradicts multiple reliable sources. The exit polls and analyses from organizations like Tufts University are generally considered authoritative in assessing electoral outcomes. These sources indicate that Trump did not win any age category of voters under 50, which includes a significant portion of the youth demographic (source).
The reliability of the sources used to debunk Trump's claim is high. Exit polls are conducted by reputable organizations and are widely accepted in political analysis. The Tufts analysis is also well-regarded in academic circles for its thorough examination of voting patterns among young people. In contrast, Trump's statements often lack empirical backing and are characterized by exaggeration, as noted in previous analyses of his electoral claims (source).
Moreover, Trump's tendency to inflate his electoral success has been documented in past elections, where he claimed victories that were not substantiated by actual vote counts or credible polling data (source). This pattern raises questions about the motivations behind such claims, suggesting they may be aimed at reinforcing his political narrative rather than reflecting factual outcomes.
Conclusion
The claim that Trump won the youth vote by 34 points is False. The evidence from exit polls and analyses clearly shows that he did not win any age category of voters under 50, and specifically lost the under-30 demographic to Kamala Harris. His assertion appears to be a significant distortion of the electoral reality, consistent with his history of exaggerating his support in various voter demographics.
