Who is MrBeast, the YouTuber who said he would run for US President? How popular is he?
How popular is MrBeast and could he really launch a campaign for the White House? These questions and more.
MrBeast posted to X on Saturday that if the age requirements for president were adjusted, he would “jump in the race.”
James S. Donaldson, known as MrBeast, is currently 26 years old, which means he is too young by ten years to run for president. In order for him to be eligible to run, the US Constitution would have to be amended, but this is a lengthy process and unlikely to happen in today’s political climate. MrBeast’s content typically resembles reality TV, in which he or a group of people take on a challenge. In his most recent video, he is seen attempting to build 100 houses in Jamaica and then giving them away.
READ MORE: Is MrBeast a Democrat or a Republican?
But could someone like Mr. Beast win the White House?
He certainly would attract young voters with whom he is very popular, particularly young men. The YouTuber has nearly 300 million subscribers on his English-language channel alone, making him the site’s top content creator on this metric. Not all of those subscribers are eligible to vote in the United States. Still, his reach alone would make him a viable candidate able to capture the attention of hundreds of millions of people.
MrBeast’s reach goes far beyond the United States, partly because he has other channels where his content is translated. For instance, his Spanish-language channel has amassed over 25 million subscribers.
However, outside those who follow his content, he does not have widespread name recognition. Particularly with older generations, he would have to work to earn their trust, as their interests and view of politics may differ from those of younger voters who would be attracted to his campaign.