Donald Trump’s vice-presidential running mate, J.D. Vance, is making waves on TikTok through a collaboration with the popular Canadian-American social media group, the Nelk Boys. This partnership aims to connect with young male voters and is part of a broader initiative launched by Trump allies.
In Vance’s debut TikTok post, he is seen accepting a box of Happy Dad hard seltzers from Kyle Forgeard, one of Nelk’s founders. “Yo J.D., we want to welcome you to TikTok,” Forgeard says in the video. This nine-second clip is a teaser for a larger initiative known as Send the Vote, a $20-million voter registration and turnout program targeting Nelk’s youthful audience.
The Nelk Boys, known for their frat-like parties, pranks, and bold humor, have a massive following on TikTok with over 4.6 million followers and more than eight million YouTube subscribers. Their collaboration with Vance is set to be discussed further on the Full Send podcast, where the initiative will have a more comprehensive debut.
Nelk’s connection to Trump isn’t new; they’ve previously hosted both Donald Trump and Donald Trump Jr. on their podcast. The episode featuring Trump was removed by YouTube after gaining over five million views in 24 hours due to the former president’s statements about the 2020 election.
This initiative comes at a time when both major U.S. political parties are vying to attract young voters. With President Joe Biden recently stepping aside and endorsing Vice-President Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate, the Democrats have renewed their fundraising efforts. Harris’s supporters have organized several fundraising events to invigorate the campaign.
The Send the Vote program by Trump and Vance appears to be a strategic move to counter the Democrats’ efforts and to mobilize young voters who resonate with Nelk’s content. The collaboration leverages Nelk’s widespread influence and humor, which often subtly aligns with conservative values.
This positive collaboration underscores the innovative ways political campaigns are engaging with younger demographics, utilizing popular social media platforms and influencers to connect with potential voters.
