CNN anchor Jake Tapper expressed his belief on Wednesday that Generation Z will lean towards being “much more conservative” than earlier generations.
In an episode of the podcast “The Reason Interview,” Tapper shared this perspective with Reason editor-in-chief Nick Gillespie, pointing out a trend where younger generations seem increasingly inclined to reject the progressive values instilled in them through education.
“I think this is a reaction to Gen X and Millennials promoting progressive ideals in schools,” he remarked.
The journalist noted that his views are also influenced by observing his own children’s “skepticism” towards liberal political ideas. “My impression is that Gen Z will be more conservative. From my experience with Gen Z kids, including my own, I get the sense that they’re more skeptical,” Tapper stated.
Gillespie echoed his thoughts, reflecting on how earlier perceptions of Gen Z are shifting, but he acknowledged that it could still play out that way.
Recent polling data indicates that young people have, in fact, become more conservative compared to their views in 2020.
Data from the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) suggests that younger voters are now more inclined to see the upcoming elections as conservative compared to previous years. Notably, in the last election, the age group of 18 to 29 showed a preference for Trump over Harris.
Tapper highlighted Trump’s performance among younger voters, noting that while he didn’t completely win them over, he did better than any previous Republican candidate.
“Trump didn’t connect with young voters entirely, as he likes to claim, but he had better support from them than prior Republicans,” Tapper elaborated.
He added that it’s not solely Trump’s charisma that is attracting young people to the Republican Party. There’s also a growing disillusionment with the progressive movement. “I believe there’s a response to the inability of the progressive agenda to achieve its goals, whether that be through Bernie Sanders, Black Lives Matter, or #MeToo,” he remarked.
Tapper further attributed some of these shifts to the impact of COVID and the prevailing progressive politics in educational settings, suggesting there’s a lot more at play.
