Half a year into his return to the White House, President Donald Trump remains a commanding presence on the political stage—dominating headlines, stirring debate, and enacting policies that continue to divide opinion across generations. From nuclear tensions to high-profile feuds and controversial immigration initiatives, Trump’s second term has been anything but uneventful.
Yet amid the chaos, the most revealing development may not be what the president has done—but how a crucial generation of voters is now responding.
New polling data has shed light on how Generation Z, America’s youngest voting bloc, currently views Trump—and the numbers should be cause for concern within Republican circles. Once seen as a generation beginning to warm slightly to Trump, Gen Z appears to be turning sharply against him.
And the implications for the 2026 midterms—and perhaps even the 2028 presidential race—are significant.
A Presidency Marked by Polarization
Trump’s second term began in January following a narrow, hard-fought victory in the 2024 election. The former president managed to claw his way back into the Oval Office with just enough support across battleground states, fending off then-President Kamala Harris in what proved to be a bitterly contested and unusually close race.
His return to power has since reignited tensions on the world stage and intensified domestic divisions. Among the most controversial actions of his new term:
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A missile strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, reigniting fears of another prolonged conflict in the Middle East.
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Violent protests in Los Angeles, sparked by his renewed crackdown on undocumented immigrants and the expansion of ICE’s enforcement powers.
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The introduction of the “Big Beautiful Bill”, a sweeping economic and infrastructure proposal that has drawn criticism from both parties and ignited a dramatic fallout with former ally Elon Musk.
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The launch of “Alligator Alcatraz”, a heavily militarized immigrant processing center in Florida, which became infamous after Trump suggested it could be used to detain—and even deport—U.S. citizens who couldn’t “prove their loyalty.”
These moves, whether viewed as bold leadership or authoritarian overreach, have created a volatile political climate. And while older generations, particularly Baby Boomers and many Gen X voters, continue to back Trump in solid numbers, younger voters appear to be losing patience.
Gen Z’s Swift Turn Against Trump
The most striking evidence of this generational divide comes from a new YouGov/Yahoo News poll, conducted between June 26–30, surveying 1,597 U.S. adults. Among the respondents, Generation Z—those born between 1997 and 2012—were notably the most dissatisfied with the president’s performance.
According to the data, Trump’s net approval rating among Gen Z dropped dramatically from -23 in May to -41 in June, a staggering decline in just one month.
This negative 41-point gap marks his lowest rating with the generation to date and signals a major shift in sentiment just six months into his presidency.
To put that into context: in the 2024 presidential election, Trump surprisingly made gains among voters aged 18–29, managing to secure 47% of the vote in that age group compared to Kamala Harris’s 51%, according to AP VoteCast.
That near-even split, once seen as a breakthrough for Trump, has now all but evaporated—raising alarms among Republican strategists who had hoped to build on that momentum heading into the midterms.
Why Gen Z Is Turning Away
So what’s driving this generational rejection?
Gen Z has always been a complex and politically diverse group. Often described as progressive, socially conscious, and deeply online, many Gen Z voters came of age during Trump’s first term and witnessed events like the George Floyd protests, climate marches, and the COVID-19 pandemic—all of which shaped their political identity.
Now, in his second term, several factors appear to be reigniting their opposition:
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Foreign Policy Fears – Many Gen Z voters are deeply skeptical of military interventionism. Trump’s missile strike on Iran’s nuclear bases, while framed by his administration as a “necessary preemptive action,” has been viewed by younger Americans as reckless and destabilizing.
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Immigration Policies – The reactivation and expansion of controversial immigration policies, especially the creation of “Alligator Alcatraz,” struck a nerve with a generation that largely supports immigrant rights and comprehensive reform.
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Climate and Environmental Concerns – Trump’s continued rollbacks on environmental protections and withdrawal from several climate-related initiatives stand in stark contrast to Gen Z’s priorities. Poll after poll shows this generation lists climate change as one of their top concerns.
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Authoritarian Rhetoric and Deportation Talk – Comments made by Trump about deporting even U.S. citizens under suspicion of disloyalty have drawn fierce backlash, particularly among younger voters who see these statements as attacks on civil liberties.
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Feud with Elon Musk – While Gen Z isn’t monolithic in its view of Musk, the public spat between the president and the tech mogul—culminating in Trump threatening to deport Musk, who became a U.S. citizen in 2002—has been interpreted by many young people as bizarre and unpresidential.
A Growing Political Liability?
The political consequences of alienating Gen Z are already taking shape. In recent years, this generation has shown that it not only cares about politics but also shows up to vote in surprising numbers. In the 2022 midterms, for example, Gen Z voters played a pivotal role in preventing a Republican “red wave.”
In 2024, many expected a generational split to once again help Democrats—until Trump made unexpected gains. But now, if the current trend holds, Republicans could face a sharp generational rebuke in 2026, particularly in swing districts where young voters represent a growing share of the electorate.
Pollster Dr. Helena Royce, who specializes in generational voter behavior, notes:
“Trump’s inability to maintain the modest ground he gained with Gen Z in 2024 is deeply concerning for his campaign team. Younger voters are tuned in, they’re vocal, and they don’t easily forget policies that contradict their values.”
National Approval Ratings Slip
Trump’s problems aren’t isolated to young voters, either.
A separate poll conducted by ActiVote between June 1 and 30, surveying 523 adults, shows Trump’s national approval rating has dipped to 45%, while 52% disapprove of his job performance—a net approval of -7.
This marks his lowest approval rating of his second term so far, though it still performs better than some of his lowest points during his first term, when his average approval rating often hovered around 41% or lower.
Political analysts caution that while Trump’s core base remains intact, his support among independents and moderates may also be eroding under the weight of recent controversies.
Will Trump Acknowledge the Shift?
Despite the troubling numbers, Trump has shown little sign of altering his approach. Instead, he has doubled down on the very themes that appear to be turning Gen Z and other swing voters away—nationalism, tough-on-immigration policies, and public feuds with perceived enemies.
During a recent rally in Ohio, the president brushed off polls, calling them “fake news” and declaring:
“They said I couldn’t win in 2016. They said I couldn’t come back in 2024. They’ve always been wrong, and they’re wrong now.”
His campaign staff, however, is said to be taking the data more seriously. According to insiders, discussions are underway about launching targeted outreach to younger voters—focusing on entrepreneurship, economic opportunity, and digital freedom.
Whether that’s enough to reverse the trend remains to be seen.
The Road Ahead
With the 2026 midterms approaching, the Trump administration faces mounting pressure to broaden its appeal. Generation Z is not only growing in numbers but also in influence. They are digital natives, media savvy, and politically active—and many will still be in their twenties and early thirties by the next presidential election in 2028.
For Trump, who prides himself on reading the electorate better than the pollsters, the coming months will be critical. The question is no longer whether his policies resonate with his base—but whether they are alienating the next generation of voters.
Final Thoughts
In a presidency defined by turbulence, disruption, and constant controversy, President Donald Trump’s biggest challenge may not be from Congress or foreign adversaries—but from the young Americans watching, analyzing, and judging his every move.
The latest polling suggests that Generation Z has made up its mind—at least for now. And if that trend holds, the political future of Trumpism could be in question long after Donald Trump leaves office.
