Comedian and The Daily Show co-host Jordan Klepper says his latest encounters with college-aged supporters of President Donald Trump upended his own assumptions about the so-called “MAGA” youth movement, as per Fox News.
In an interview with Variety released Thursday, Klepper discussed his upcoming Comedy Central documentary, “MAGA: The Next Generation,” which chronicles months spent interviewing male voters in their late teens and early 20s—a cohort that swung decisively toward Trump in the 2024 election.
“I had such a cynical perspective of the youth walking into this thing,” Klepper told the magazine. “I expected to be confronted by a bunch of 22-year-olds who want to rail on trans people in sports and kick out all the immigrants. But the cruelty wasn’t there.”
While Klepper recalled “dicey” field segments during Trump’s first term, he said the young men he met this time were “pretty kind” and appeared drawn more to Trump’s celebrity aura than to specific policy positions.
Klepper came away believing the movement’s political power could wane once “the attention and fame” subside. “It feels more like a fandom,” he said.
Network Uncertainty
The comedian also addressed a potential storm brewing for The Daily Show’s parent company, Paramount Global, which is fighting a multibillion-dollar lawsuit filed by Trump. The suit accuses CBS News of election interference stemming from a controversial 60 Minutes interview; it has already prompted longtime 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens to resign.
Klepper said the litigation has not yet affected the late-night program but conceded the future is unpredictable.
“The future is always a big question mark—industry-wise, administration-wise,” he said. “Who knows if free speech will be legal six months from now? I can’t control any of that, so I’m going to enjoy what we have right now.”
Comedy Central has not announced an air date for “MAGA: The Next Generation.”
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