The Influencer Election That Wasn’t: Amid Trump Trauma, Australian Voters Logged Off

The 2025 Australian federal election marked a turning point in political strategy and investor sentiment, revealing a stark truth: in an era of digital saturation, voters have grown weary of social media-driven politics. While influencers and podcasts dominated campaign playbooks, the electorate tuned out—preferring substance over spectacle. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and geopolitical brinkmanship reshaped economic priorities, altering the calculus for investors across sectors. Here’s what happened—and what it means for markets.

The Election That Defied Digital Expectations

Australia’s 2025 vote saw Gen Z and Millennials—now the largest demographic bloc—prioritize climate action, housing affordability, and political integrity over traditional issues like pensions. Compulsory voting eliminated turnout as a variable, forcing campaigns to focus on persuading 18 million registered voters. Yet social media efforts flopped spectacularly:

• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s TikTok interview with Ozzy Man Reviews ranked 18th in engagement on the channel, trailing content about “Olympic breakdancers” and pension debates.
• Opposition leader Peter Dutton’s meme-driven TikTok page garnered more likes than Labor’s but still failed to win over voters, proving “likes ≠ votes.”

The Greens, despite backing from TikTok’s most-followed Australian lawmaker, lost two House seats—a stark rebuke of influencer politics.

The Trump Effect: Tariffs, Trade, and Trust

Trump’s 10% tariffs on Australian goods—imposed in April 2025—inflicted a $27 billion GDP hit, destabilizing key sectors. Beef exporters faced headwinds despite U.S. supply shortages, while tourism giant Flight Centre slashed profits by $100 million due to fears of hostile U.S. travel policies.

The broader geopolitical fallout was equally damaging:
- Trust in the U.S. dropped to a historic low of 36% (Sydney Lowy Institute).
- AUKUS, the U.S.-U.K.-Australia security pact, became a lightning rod for debates over national sovereignty vs. alliance obligations.

Albanese framed his centrist platform as a “steady hand” amid chaos, securing an 85-seat majority—the largest since 1949. His victory signaled a rejection of “strongman” leadership, with Dutton losing his own seat after 22 years—a humiliation amplified by his “Temu Trump” nickname.

Investment Implications: Winners and Losers in the Post-Trump Era

1. Agriculture: Beef exporters face near-term pain but may benefit from U.S. supply constraints. Diversification to markets like Japan and the EU—backed by a $50 million government package—could soften the blow.

2. Tourism: Flight Centre’s stock price (ASX: FLT) dropped 15% in 2025 amid U.S. travel fears. Investors should monitor diversification into Asian markets and geopolitical risk premiums.

3. Critical Minerals: Exempt from tariffs, lithium and cobalt producers (e.g., Pilbara Minerals, ASX: PLS) thrive as global decarbonization accelerates.

4. Technology and Cybersecurity: Regulatory crackdowns on data breaches (e.g., Optus’ $9.5M fine) favor firms with robust cybersecurity (e.g., Telstra, ASX: TLS).

5. Financials: Banks face stricter anti-money laundering rules but benefit from stable demand for housing loans under Albanese’s first-home buyer reforms.

Conclusion: The End of the Influencer Era, the Start of the Geopolitical One

The 2025 election underscored a seismic shift: voters want policies, not personalities, and they distrust both social media hype and foreign interference. For investors, the lesson is clear:

• Avoid sectors tied to U.S. tariffs (beef, tourism) until trade tensions ease.
• Favor firms with diversified supply chains and exposure to tariff-exempt sectors like critical minerals.
• Monitor Albanese’s trade strategy—his $1 billion loan program for exporters and push for EU-Australia free trade talks could mitigate risks from U.S.-China rivalry.

The “Trump effect” will linger, but so will voter demand for stability. In this new era, substance—not spectacle—will drive both politics and profits.

The 2025 election wasn’t just a rebuke of social media politics; it was a wake-up call for investors. In a world of geopolitical storms and generational shifts, the winners will be those who heed the message: trust is earned, not algorithmically generated.