Gen Z Conservatives Fueled Trump’s 2024 Win — But Their Support Is Cracking

Gen Z conservatives played a pivotal role in delivering President Donald Trump his strongest under-30 voter support in two decades during the 2024 election. Yet, cracks are forming in that foundation as economic frustrations and foreign policy concerns cast doubt on their midterm enthusiasm.

Brilyn Hollyhand, a 19-year-old conservative influencer and former co-chair of the Republican National Committee’s youth council, warns the GOP that ignoring the economy could cost them the midterms. Speaking to a room of young voters in Ohio, Hollyhand said bluntly, “If Republicans focus on everything except the economy going into November, we deserve to lose.” He stressed that Gen Z voters want real solutions, not culture war distractions or dense policy papers.

This sentiment echoes across the young conservative landscape. Carson Carpenter, 20, who runs a conservative media company, notes that many in his generation are anti-war and deeply skeptical of the U.S. conflict with Iran. “Just because of all the domestic repercussions that we’re seeing, it probably will [swing votes],” Carpenter told MS NOW, highlighting how foreign entanglements are now a significant factor for young GOP voters.

The data backs up these concerns. A recent Generation Lab survey found only 58% of GOP voters under 35 plan to back their party’s midterm candidate, with 31% leaning toward neither candidate or planning to skip voting altogether. Nearly 70% describe the economy as “bad” or “terrible,” and almost half oppose Trump’s military action against Iran.

Penn State senior and College Republicans press secretary Collin Jones called the Iran conflict “unnecessary” and “self-inflicted,” pointing to supply chain disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz as a direct consequence of the administration’s policies.

Despite White House claims that young Americans are benefiting from Trump’s “largest middle-class tax cuts” and “most secure border in history,” many Gen Z conservatives feel the president’s messaging misses the mark. Carpenter criticized Trump’s focus on stock market gains and blaming Joe Biden for inflation, saying, “People see [inflation] every day.”

The GOP’s outreach efforts include campus visits by Vice President JD Vance and a strong social media presence, but insiders and young conservatives alike say the party still talks mostly to its base. Hollyhand urged the GOP to engage nonpartisan and disaffected young voters, warning that preaching to the choir won’t win new support.

Trump’s social media strategy, which helped fuel his 2024 victory, appears to have slowed. While the president once embraced podcasts and streaming platforms popular with young voters, critics say he has reverted to traditional political messaging. Yet behind the scenes, Trump continues to court influencers popular with young men, including the Nelk Boys, signaling a continued effort to hold onto Gen Z’s attention.

The message from young conservatives is clear: economic anxiety and war fatigue are real, and the GOP must address these issues head-on or risk losing the generation that helped bring Trump back to power. The midterms will be a test of whether the party can move beyond culture wars and deliver tangible solutions to a restless youth.