In a surprising move, Maxim magazine, an iconic name in men’s pop culture, has officially endorsed Donald Trump for president in the upcoming 2024 election. Known for its content geared toward men—ranging from entertainment and sports to fashion and lifestyle—the magazine made its endorsement public on October 17 through a post on X (formerly Twitter). The post featured a striking image of a younger Donald Trump sitting in an expensive sports car, accompanied by his wife Melania, who poses seductively on the vehicle. The accompanying caption read: “Maxim endorses Donald J. Trump for President.”
This endorsement marks a rare foray into politics for Maxim, a publication founded in the UK in 1995 that has grown into a global brand. Best known for its features on celebrities and models, as well as its annual “Hot 100” list, the magazine has historically stayed away from political commentary. However, as Trump makes his third bid for the White House, Maxim has decided to throw its support behind the former president, marking an unusual intersection of pop culture and politics.
As the race between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris heats up, the Maxim endorsement comes at a crucial time for Trump, who has been gaining momentum in recent weeks. According to pollster Nate Silver’s prediction model, Trump has pulled ahead of Harris in a narrow lead. As of Thursday, Trump holds 50.2% of the vote compared to Harris’s 49.5%. While this margin is razor-thin, it marks the first time Trump has led in Silver’s model since mid-September.
Silver noted that Harris was leading the race just a day earlier, with 50.3% of the vote to Trump’s 49.4%. However, new polls, including one from Fox News showing Trump ahead by 2 points and another survey from Georgia, have contributed to his rise in the model. Silver cautioned that these dynamics are likely to shift repeatedly in the lead-up to Election Day, comparing the race to a close basketball game where the lead constantly switches back and forth.
For Harris, the past few months have been a rollercoaster. She surged in the polls after securing President Biden’s endorsement when he exited the race earlier this year. Harris quickly gained traction at the Democratic National Convention, bolstered by her strong showing in several swing states. However, that momentum has seemingly plateaued as Trump mounts a fierce challenge, clawing back support in battleground states.
Trump’s popularity with certain voter demographics, particularly among men, could be a significant factor in his recent surge. Maxim‘s endorsement may not come as a shock to those familiar with the magazine’s audience—primarily young, male readers with interests in entertainment, cars, and lifestyle. For Trump, an endorsement from a pop culture staple like Maxim could further solidify his appeal to male voters and broaden his reach beyond traditional conservative outlets.
As Silver has noted in his predictions, the 2024 race has been one of the closest and most unpredictable in recent memory. Polling shows that both candidates have been locked in a near-even contest for weeks, and Silver expects the lead to shift multiple times before voters head to the polls on November 5. In fact, Silver wrote that this is the tightest election forecast he has ever seen, where both candidates are hovering around a 50-50 split in most models.
As Harris works to regain her footing in the race, she has faced a barrage of criticism from conservative groups. Earlier this month, the Sentinel Action Fund, a conservative SuperPAC, released an ad targeting Harris, accusing her of being a radical despite her recent attempts to present herself as a moderate candidate. The ad, aimed at over a million low-propensity voters in Pennsylvania, portrayed Harris as dishonest about her record and values.
“Kamala Harris: once a radical, always a radical,” the ad’s closing line states. The ad highlights Harris’s previous positions on issues such as fracking and border security, suggesting that she has taken extreme stances that are out of touch with moderate voters.
Jessica Anderson, president of the Sentinel Action Fund, elaborated on this theme in a public statement, saying, “Kamala Harris and Bob Casey [D-Pa.] are being dishonest with Pennsylvania voters about their radical stances on everything from fracking to the border crisis. This ad only shows a small snapshot of the various lies they have told voters.”
With only weeks remaining before Election Day, both Trump and Harris are vying to tip the balance in their favor. Trump’s recent gains, bolstered by endorsements like that from Maxim, show that he remains a formidable contender, even as Harris maintains strong support from Democratic voters. Polling data will likely continue to fluctuate as each candidate fights for the crucial swing states that could ultimately decide the election.
While Maxim‘s endorsement is unexpected, it signals that Trump’s influence in pop culture—bolstered by his celebrity status from his time on The Apprentice and his larger-than-life persona—still holds sway over certain demographics. As the 2024 race draws to a close, every endorsement and poll shift could play a pivotal role in determining the next occupant of the White House.
