Donald Trump is trying to win the votes of Generation Z. But he realizes that it may be too little, too late.
At the RNC, Generation Z voters explain why they support the Republican Party
Millions of young people will cast their first vote in the 2024 presidential election. These voters explain why they support Donald Trump.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s numerous recent media appearances suggest that he is appealing to a new audience: right-wing Generation Z.
Nothing makes this clearer than his recent series of podcast appearances, including interviews with comedian Theo Von, live streamer Adin Ross and internet star Logan Paul.
He has also taken steps to address a flashpoint on the online right, holding a lengthy conversation with X CEO Elon Musk on that platform and appearing on the podcast of Lex Fridman, another interviewer popular with the online right.
What all of these appearances have in common is that they appeal to young, right-wing men.
Trump’s bet on Generation Z men may not be enough
Trump is making a concerted effort to appeal to men of Generation Z, a demographic in which he is just behind Vice President Kamala Harrisbut with a much smaller gap than among women of Generation Z.
Generation Z ranges from 1997 to 2012. Trump’s campaign team seems convinced that winning the votes of young people is worth it in this election cycle – unlike previous elections in which the former president preferred media appearances on Fox News.
I will not vote for Trump: I can’t bring myself to vote for Trump. But let me tell you why other conservatives can.
Trump’s biggest risk is whether turnout among young voters will be the deciding factor, and whether he can attract enough young voters. While high turnout among my age group is bad for Trump, his attempts to appeal to Gen Z men could help mitigate the impact of high turnout.
If turnout is high enough and he gets enough of our votes, Trump will be happy to have done his duty to his most popular young demographic, white men. But that comes with a few ifs.
Gen Z is the generation that chooses
Half of all Americans ages 18 to 29 voted in 2020. And in the 2022 midterm elections, we voted more than ever before.
Since voter turnout increased due to the controversial issue of access to abortion, over eight million new voters have entered the electorate.
This is very bad news for Trump, as Harris is 26 percentage points ahead among registered voters who were not eligible to vote in 2020. While his attention to his voter base in this generation could mitigate the sharp defeat among young voters, he is likely to mobilize only voters who are in his camp anyway.
GOP is now MAGA: Where are the Republicans I admired as a child? Trump has infected Republicans with his MAGA virus.
Trump’s efforts would be better served in his preferred demographic
The Republican Party continues to have a clear lead among America’s oldest generations. And although there are more swing voters among young voters, Trump is not the candidate who can convince left-leaning young voters to cross party lines.
A candidate like Nikki Haley, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and governor of South Carolina, could have successfully bridged this gap because of her moderate leanings.
Instead, Republicans nominated Trump, who faces unique difficulties in repositioning himself in a generation that entered the political discourse with him as its centerpiece. Young voters either love the man or hate him, with the bias leaning heavily toward the latter.
Trump’s attempts to win back his share of young voters are likely too late and too small to make a meaningful difference with a generation that is staunchly hostile to him.
Dace Potas is an opinion columnist for USA TODAY and a graduate of DePaul University with a degree in political science.
