What Gen Z Support for Trump Says About Their Changing Politics

Summary

WSJ What’s News: What Gen Z Support for Trump Says About Their Changing Politics

Release Date: December 15, 2024
Host: Charlotte Gartenberg
Episode Title: What Gen Z Support for Trump Says About Their Changing Politics

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Introduction

In this episode of What’s News Sunday, Charlotte Gartenberg explores the intriguing trend of increased Gen Z support for Donald Trump in the recent presidential election. Traditionally perceived as a politically progressive generation, Gen Z's shift towards the Republican candidate raises questions about their evolving political priorities and the broader implications for future elections.

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Rising Gen Z Voter Turnout and Republican Support

Charlotte begins by highlighting a significant increase in Gen Z voter turnout, with more young voters than in previous elections casting ballots. Notably, a larger portion of these voters leaned Republican compared to past trends. This shift prompts an investigation into the underlying factors driving Gen Z's political alignment.

Key Insights:

• Economic Concerns: Aaron Zitner emphasizes that the primary motivator for Gen Z voters was the economy. Dissatisfaction with the current economic policies under President Biden led many young voters to seek alternatives.

  • “Number one, the economy and number two, just the sense of dissatisfaction with the leadership of the country in the form of President Biden and the direction of the country overall...” (02:16)

• Leadership and Direction: There was a prevalent feeling among young voters that the country lacked effective leadership.

  • “A sense of no one's really steering the ship.” (02:16)

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Gender Dynamics in Gen Z Voting Patterns

The episode delves into the nuanced differences between young men and women in their political preferences.

Women's Shift Towards Liberalism:

• Women within Gen Z have become more liberal, feeling that the Democratic Party no longer aligns closely enough with their progressive values.

  • “Young women go to college more than young men. Young women have more college debt than young men.” (04:08)

• Specific policy preferences, such as strong support for climate change action and abortion rights, particularly resonate with young women.

  • “Young women favored forgiving federally funded student loans by 45 points.” (02:38)

Men's Movement Towards Conservatism:

• In contrast, young men have shown a tendency to shift Republican, influenced by perceptions of societal biases and a sense of disenfranchisement.
  • “Young men have shifted more Republican.” (02:43)
  • “There’s a real difference in how young men and young women are coming into adulthood.” (04:08)

Notable Quotes:

• Cody Miller: A political science major from Appalachian State University expresses frustration felt by young men.

  • “A lot of people in power are talking about how young men, specifically young white men, have some sort of privilege that doesn't actually exist... the system is working actively against them...” (04:14)

• North Dakota Farmer: Illustrates the sentiment among young men who feel marginalized by progressive policies.

  • “The white male is the enemy of the left.” (05:22)

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Impact of New Media on Political Campaigns

The conversation shifts to how political campaigns have adapted to engage Gen Z through new media platforms.

Utilization of Podcasts and Influencers:

• Both Trump and Biden leveraged podcasts and platforms like TikTok to reach younger audiences, signaling a strategic pivot to where Gen Z consumes their media.

  • “Trump is very good at that [engaging on social media],” (08:08)

• Donald Trump's appearances on non-traditional political platforms helped him connect with Gen Z as an entertainer rather than a conventional politician.

  • “When Trump would go on them, he was signaling, I understand this audience, and I'm not going as a politician, I'm going kind of as an entertainer.” (08:08)

Historical Context:

• Jimmy Vielkind draws parallels to past political figures like John F. Kennedy and Bill Clinton, who also leveraged emerging media to connect with younger voters.
  • “It’s the same as Bill Clinton playing the saxophone on Arsenio Hall... or John F. Kennedy using television in 1960.” (09:27)

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Future of Political Campaigning and Gen Z Engagement

Looking ahead, Gartenberg and her guests discuss how the strategies employed in the recent election might shape future campaigns.

Shift Towards Content Creators:

• Jimmy Vielkind predicts that future campaigns will increasingly involve content creators and influencers, moving beyond traditional media channels.
  • “Seats that were traditionally reserved for the press... were given over to content creators.” (10:20)

Gen Z’s Approach to Change:

• Gen Z is characterized by a willingness to start their own initiatives, leveraging digital tools to effect change outside traditional government structures.

  • “Not being afraid to start your own thing and not being afraid to use digital tools...” (11:12)

• The generation's diverse background means their political motivations are more rooted in economic prospects rather than solely racial or ethnic identities.

  • “Young people today are different than their parents... their economic independence and economic prospects removed from their racial or ethnic background.” (11:35)

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Perceptions of Government and Future Expectations

The panelists explore how Gen Z views the role of government and their expectations from political leaders.

Disillusionment with Government:

• Many young voters feel disconnected from the current political system, fostering a sense of disengagement and resignation.

  • “A feeling of resignation by younger voters who were prepared to vote for Democrats but feeling like there would be no major changes.” (12:23)

• The Democratic Party’s ability to harness Gen Z’s energy and address their concerns is crucial for future electoral success.

  • “It has traditionally relied upon in presidential elections.” (12:23)

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Conclusion

Charlotte Gartenberg wraps up the episode by underscoring the significant shifts within Gen Z’s political landscape. The increased support for Trump among young voters is not merely a deviation but indicative of deeper economic and societal concerns. As Gen Z continues to mature and gain political influence, understanding their unique perspectives and leveraging new media will be essential for political parties aiming to engage this pivotal demographic.

Closing Remarks:

• “The Democratic party... whether it can capture some of the energy and enthusiasm among younger voters that it has traditionally relied upon in presidential elections.” (13:27)

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Key Takeaways:

1. Economic Discontent: The foremost issue driving Gen Z voters towards Trump is dissatisfaction with the current economic situation and leadership.
2. Gender-Based Political Shifts: Young women are moving more liberal, while young men are gravitating towards Republican ideology due to perceived societal biases.
3. New Media Engagement: Campaigns are increasingly utilizing podcasts and influencers to connect with Gen Z, reflecting a broader trend of meeting voters where they are.
4. Future Campaign Strategies: The integration of content creators and digital influencers is expected to continue, reshaping how political messages are disseminated.
5. Government Perception: Gen Z exhibits a growing disillusionment with the effectiveness of government, highlighting a need for political parties to better align with their expectations and aspirations.

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This comprehensive analysis offers valuable insights into the shifting political dynamics among Gen Z voters, providing a nuanced understanding of their motivations and the implications for future electoral strategies.

Transcript

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[Charlotte Gartenberg]

LLC hey, what's News Listeners? It's Sunday, December 15th. I'm Charlotte Gartenberg for the Wall Street Journal. This is what's New Sunday, the show where we tackle the big questions about the biggest stories in the news by reaching out to our colleagues across across the newsroom to help explain what's happening in our world. This week, Gen Z helped fuel Trump's win. More of them showed up to vote than in previous presidential elections, and more of them voted Republican. So what brought them to the polls and what does this tell us about the coming generation's thinking and political influence? Let's get to it. Kamala Harris still won the majority in the group of voters 18 to 29 years old, but but only with a 4 point advantage against a 25 point margin in President Biden's 2020 victory. The youth vote is not a monolith, but we did see some trends from the economy taking first place above all else to men and women moving in opposing ideological directions. So what do these trends tell us about how the next generation is thinking about the President elect, politics and the role of government in their lives? Here to walk us through is reporter and editor Aaron Zitner, who focuses on how demographics and economics drive politics, and reporter Jimmy Vielkind, who you may have heard for many Sundays right here on the what's News feed for Chasing the Base and Chasing the Vote, where he reported on voter attitudes all over the country leading up to the election. All right, Aaron, we could spend a whole episode on just this. But summarizing quickly, what were the big issues that brought young people to the polls?

[Aaron Zitner]

Number one, the economy and number two, just the sense of dissatisfaction with the leadership of the country in the form of President Biden and the direction of the country overall, a sense of no one's really steering the ship. And I'm not happy with the economy right now. And so I don't have a lot of faith that the party in power is going to make things better.

[Charlotte Gartenberg]

I mean, is this also a sign of an ideological shift amongst young people?

[Aaron Zitner]

This brings us to the gender discussion. In my look at the data, women have become more liberal. Their ideology has changed. We talked to many, many young women in our reporting who didn't feel connected to the Democratic Party because they thought the Democratic Party was not liberal enough. Now, men, by contrast, have been kind of more non ideological. We don't see any shift among young men when we ask, do you consider yourself to be liberal or conservative? But they have shifted more Republican. We see a lot of this in our polls when we talk to young people and we ask about things like climate change. Young women overwhelmingly want urgent action on climate change. Young men less so on abortion. Both young men and young women are favor abortion rights, but the women much, much more than men. And then we get to things that speak to lived experience. One of the signature Biden policies was forgiving federally funded student loans. In our polling, young women favored forgiving federally funded student loans by 45 points. Young men were about evenly divided. That's a big difference. 45 points in favor of a policy versus meh, take it or leave it. And we think that connects to lived experience. Young women go to college more than young men. Young women have more college debt than young men.

[Charlotte Gartenberg]

Jimmy, how did you hear this growing gender gap? As you were reporting around the country.

[Jimmy Vielkind]

After the election, I spoke with voters in several key swing states, including someone named Cody Miller, who is a political science major at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. He described to me a sort of feeling of frustration or being put upon that he felt as a young man. That is coming from what he perceived to be mainstream culture and the power of the government. Here's what he told me. Quote, a lot of people in power are talking about how young men, specifically young white men, have some sort of privilege that doesn't actually exist. People feel the system is working actively against them while these liberal elites are in charge, end quote. President Trump, of course, tapped into that sense of grievance and provided a character and a model for someone who can rise and not care about any of the conventions of political correctness in society. So Cody said that struck a chord with him. And it's something that I heard from many other young male voters who supported President Trump and other Republican candidates.

[Aaron Zitner]

And we heard the same thing in our reporting elsewhere, there's a real difference in how young men and young women are coming into adulthood. I talked to a young man, a 23 year old farmer, farmer in North Dakota, who said, it seems that the white male is the enemy of the left. And we talked to college kids who said, yeah, you know, you're a freshman or a sophomore. All the internships are reserved for minority candidates. And I'm a young white guy. I can't even expect to get an internship until I'm a junior or a senior. And they're sensing the kind of diversity, equity and inclusion push working against them, and they associate that with the Democratic Party. Now let's talk about young women coming of age. Think of a young woman who's just beginning to think about politics. One of the first things she might have heard is Donald Trump's grab them by the genitals, the famous Access Hollywood tape. An affront to women, and yet he gets elected anyway. And then that young woman would see the Dobbs decision and abortion rights, which many had taken for granted as part of the bedrock of life in America, taken away. Each of these is seen among many young women as an affront, as a sign of disrespect, if not outright stripping of rights. And that's what's on their mind as they come of age and make voting decisions.

[Charlotte Gartenberg]

All right, we gotta take a short break, but when we come back, we're gonna get a little bit more into how the campaigns worked, particularly to sort of capture that men ages 18 to 29 and also what these shifting strategies might say about what young people expect from their political leaders. That's after the break.

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[Charlotte Gartenberg]

All right, guys. Aaron, Jimmy. We saw a big shift in how the campaigns played out this year. Both candidates spent a lot of time on podcasts. Trump famously went on Joe Rogan, among others. But he also leaned into new media, like TikTok influencer culture. Part of this is because that's where young people consume media generally. But are we also seeing a shift in the relationship that young people expect to have with politicians?

[Aaron Zitner]

My experience at the campaign was my 20 year old son calling me up and saying, hey, dad, did you see Trump went on with Adin Ross? And I'd say, who's Adin Ross? And he'd say, hey, dad, he has 7 million followers on Twitch. You gotta know who Adin Ross is. He would call me up and say, hey, dad, did you see the video that Trump just made with Bryson Dechambeau? It has 3 million views. And I'd say, who's Bryson Dechambeau? And he'd say, he's a big golfer with a big social media follower. These are social media that have their own audiences that are not political, but they have a loyal following. And when Trump would go on them, he would be signaling, I understand this audience, and I'm not going as a politician, I'm going kind of as an entertainer. And maybe not so much us on this podcast because we're kind of button down, Wall Street Journal types. But you go on these podcasts, there's room to breathe. You can be unscripted. And Trump is very good at that.

[Charlotte Gartenberg]

Full disclosure, I'm a millennial, elder millennial. And I'm looking at this and I'm thinking, is this just a modern version of Bill Clinton playing the saxophone on Arsenio hall in 1992, or is it the same as Clinton doing an hour long interview on mtv? Is this just like the same as meeting the younger people where they're at, or is there something else going on?

[Jimmy Vielkind]

Well, you can go further back. You can go to John F. Kennedy using this brand new medium called television to make Richard Nixon look aloof and stiff in the 1960 presidential election. I think part of it is meeting voters where they are. But I think that Donald Trump's personality is sort of uniquely situated to these circumstances and these spaces that Aaron has described. And going back before Donald Trump was ever a candidate for public office, he had a knack for, for building attention around himself. He has a certain element of braggadocio that is sort of fundamental to his personality. These are the kinds of spaces and the kinds of interactions where he does really well.

[Charlotte Gartenberg]

Given the success of using new media to access younger voters, do you think we're going to see changes in how politicians campaign? Jimmy?

[Jimmy Vielkind]

I do think we will. We already saw this year during the Democratic National Committee convention in Chicago that seats that were traditionally reserved for the press at establishment outlets were given over to content creators, people who, again, as Erin said, don't necessarily cover politics, but who have followings. I think that these were the first steps in this cycle. And I would be shocked if they are not repeated in upcoming elections, both for presidency or for congress and state and local offices.

[Charlotte Gartenberg]

In the past, as young people, for boomers to affect change in the world, the narrative was, you join the civil service for millennials. We work for nonprofits. What is it for Gen Z? I mean, what's the change that they want to see in the world, and how do they think to affect that change?

[Jimmy Vielkind]

Charlotte, I think you hit correctly on how millennials tend to move outside of government to sort of advocacy organizations. I detected a lot of that among Gen Z voters I spoke to. But sprinkled into it is a sensibility of not being afraid to start your own thing and not being afraid to use digital tools and to focus on the digital world.

[Aaron Zitner]

Remember, we're also talking about a more racially diverse set of people than in past cohorts. And the young people today are. They're different than their parents. You know, young black men and women are further removed from the civil rights era, and that connection to the civil rights era motivated a lot of voting. And when you talk about Latino young people, they're more removed from the immigrant experience. Far more young Hispanic voters are US Born. So they're taking their voting cues less from racial and ethnic identity and more from something else. And to your question, I would say that something else is their economic independence and economic prospects removed from their racial or ethnic background.

[Charlotte Gartenberg]

So going forward, how do young people see the role of government in their lives? What's the future of this generation?

[Jimmy Vielkind]

Oh, I found a very big notion of being dispirited by the idea of government. I can remember being in Atlanta talking to some voters on the belt line in that southern city and having a feeling of resignation by younger voters who were prepared to vote for Democrats but feeling like there would be no major changes, feeling that Kamala Harris did not represent the kinds of major changes that they wished to see in this society. There was disengagement because they didn't feel that the current political system represented them and gave them a true voice or a true choice. So I think a lot of the answer to that, Charlotte, is going to depend upon what the parties, and particularly the Democratic party, which has more historically been aligned with younger voters, as to whether or not it can capture some of the energy and enthusiasm among younger voters that it has traditionally relied upon in presidential elections.

[Charlotte Gartenberg]

That was reporter and editor Aaron Zitner and reporter Jimmy Vielkind. Aaron. Jimmy, thank you so much.

[Aaron Zitner]

Good to be with you.

[Jimmy Vielkind]

Happy to be here, Charlotte.

[Charlotte Gartenberg]

And that's it for what's new Sunday for December 15th. Today's show is produced by me, Charlotte Gartenberg, with supervising producer Michael Kosmedes. We got help from deputy editors Scott Salloway and Chris Zinsley. I'm Charlotte Gartenberg. We'll be back on Monday morning with a new show. Thanks for listening.

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