Friends,
Trump’s rapidly declining approval among Gen Z—a generation born roughly between 1997 and 2012—is a glaring warning sign for his campaign. Despite a flashy digital outreach effort led by his son Barron, Gen Z voters are increasingly rejecting Trump’s inflationary economic policies, hardline stance on immigration, and authoritarian overreach.
This generation isn’t fooled by optics. They want substance, integrity, and justice—and they’re not buying what Trump is selling. Nor should they.
Let’s be clear: I don’t expect this shift to make Trump reconsider his agenda. He’s shown us who he is.
What’s more important is how Gen Z responds. As of 2024, around 41 million Gen Z Americans—ages 18 to 27—were eligible to vote, including more than 8 million newly eligible 18–19-year-olds (CIRCLE, 2023). That number continues to grow.
I count myself as a parent who helped birth this generation. Despite being born into anguishing political and planetary crisis, this generation is poised to reshape our democracy.
And yet, like many, Gen Z is deeply frustrated with politics—and with good reason. But as I often say, “When things get political, get more political.” That’s been my guiding principle. Because when civil and human rights are under assault, silence is not an option. Engagement is the only answer.
I accomplish this as a member and leader in a civil rights organization, LULAC, my work in policy analysis, policy advocacy, and preparing a new generation through the work I do as a professor and scholar at the University of Texas—of course, alongside other staff and faculty who are similarly outstanding in their commitment to youth in these ways.
I also write and publish from this work. I am also engaged in my local community. For 11 years now, this has occurred mostly through the work that I and so many others do at Academia Cuauhtli, our Saturday school for underserved, mostly East Austin youth. Even as institutions are getting torn down, our perpetual work is one of building a new architecture for community based education in Austin, Texas. These are examples of how to build a life that is fulfilling and triumphant.
My deepest hope is that Gen Z not only turns out to vote in presidential elections, but also steps up in state and local contests where so much of our daily lives are shaped. I hope they run for office in great numbers, organize their communities, and claim their rightful place in public life. We need their clarity, courage, and vision now more than ever.
Do read on about the "shock poll" below that must surely nevertheless impact those reading the tea leaves and crystal-balling the future right now.
-Angela Valenzuela
Reference
CIRCLE. (2023, December 7). 41 million members of Gen Z will be eligible to vote in 2024. Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, Tufts University. https://circle.tufts.edu/latest-research/41-million-members-gen-z-will-be-eligible-vote-2024
Goorin, J., & Baumgarten, R. (2023, April 4). For Gen Z, identity is what they make it. Vox Media. https://www.voxmedia.com/2023/4/4/23669479/for-gen-z-identity-is-what-they-make-
Shock poll shows Trump's approval rating savaged by key group
Donald Trump is losing ground fast with Generation Z, with a string of new polls showing his approval among young voters has plunged to record lows.
The latest YouGov/Yahoo survey found Trump's net approval among Gen Z voters collapsed from -23 in May to a staggering -41 in June, with just 27 percent approving of his job performance.
A separate Quantus poll showed his Gen Z approval dropped from 46 percent in June to just 35 percent in early July, and an ActiVote poll found disapproval surged to 62 percent.
It comes just months after he made surprising gains in the 2024 election.
Experts say the sharp drop reflects frustration with Trump's handling of key issues like the economy, inflation and immigration.
On inflation alone, YouGov/Economist data shows his Gen Z approval sank from 32 percent to just 23 percent over the past month.
Trump had significantly narrowed the Gen Z gap in 2024, losing 18–29-year-olds to Kamala Harris by just four points.
A key part of that push was his teenage son Barron, who became an unlikely asset on the campaign trail.
The 18-year-old emerged as a quiet but powerful influence on his father, with some calling him a political ambassador for his generation.
Barron understood what Gen Z cared about, and used that insight to help steer Trump’s outreach strategy.
He encouraged his dad to appear on comedian Theo Von’s podcast and helped line up his viral 90-minute interview with Kick streamer Adin Ross, which drew 500,000 live viewers and, according to Trump’s Truth Social account, racked up 100 million total views.
Working alongside conservative influencer Bo Loudon, Barron also pushed Trump to engage with Gen Z favorites like YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul and entrepreneur Patrick Bet-David, host of the PBD Podcast.
The approach appeared to work, at least for a while, but fresh polling suggests that goodwill is rapidly evaporating, as the broader electorate seems largely unfazed by his recent military actions.
Despite authorizing U.S. airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites during the so-called '12 Day War' between Israel and Iran, the president's approval rating has remained frozen at 47 percent, according to a new Daily Mail/J.L. Partners poll.
It is the same figure recorded on June 6 - before Israel launched its initial strikes - and again on June 18, just days before the U.S. entered the conflict. His disapproval rating also held steady at 53 percent.
However, roughly a third of voters said their opinion of Trump had soured in recent weeks, with many citing fears of a broader conflict with Iran, concerns over his 'dictatorial behavior' for bypassing Congress, or frustration over what they saw as ego-driven decisions.
Another 30 percent said their view of the president had improved - crediting him for showing strength, keeping his promises, and taking swift action to defend U.S. interests abroad.
The poll, conducted June 24–25 among 1,025 registered voters, came just after Trump helped broker a ceasefire between Israel and Iran following a barrage of intercepted Iranian missiles. It carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percent.
Meanwhile, a separate shock poll shows most voters are turning against Trump’s so-called ‘Big Beautiful Bill' - his massive tax-and-spending package that now heads to his desk after clearing both chambers of Congress.
The sprawling Republican-led bill promises $1,000 ‘Trump Accounts’ for newborns, eliminates taxes on tips and overtime, injects billions into the border wall, and bans states from regulating AI for the next decade. It also imposes new work requirements for Medicaid and food stamps.
While Trump and GOP leaders have hailed it as 'the largest tax cut in history,' most voters remain unconvinced.
Just 28 percent support the bill, while 36 percent oppose it, according to a new Daily Mail/J.L. Partners poll - giving it a negative net rating of -8. Support plummets outside of Trump’s base: Republicans back it by +36, but independents oppose it by -14 and Democrats by a staggering -41.
The Congressional Budget Office projects the bill will add $2.4 trillion to the national debt by 2034 while slashing taxes by $3.75 trillion.
Even some Republicans are uneasy. Sen. Ron Johnson threatened to block it over deficit fears, while Sen. Josh Hawley objected to Medicaid cuts.
A CBS News/YouGov poll also found that 47 percent of Americans believe the bill will hurt the middle class - further signaling trouble for Trump’s economic agenda ahead of November.
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