“The GOP’s Problem Is That Their Policies Repel Young People”: Are Younger Voters Really Turning to Trump Over Biden?

Jo ShawNov 11, 2023

Minute Read

Jahmiel Jackson, a Black Gen Z student at the University of Chicago registered as a Democrat, mentioned during a live interview on Fox News with host Martha MacCallum that he was contemplating voting Trump when discussing his voting intentions.

Joe Biden on Afghanistan

Jackson explained his reasons for his decision to MacCallum, stating, “I have seen the pullout of Afghanistan from Joe Biden, and I watched him check his watch during the funeral of the servicemen. I think if we were to go to a war, I’m prime-aged to be drafted, and I don’t want him to check his watch while they’re burying me.”

Jackson, a Registered Democrat

In a recent report by Newsweek, they stated that they had obtained records confirming that Jackson is a registered Democrat but had been discussing conservatism on TikTok. However, Jackson also took to Twitter to post that after his recent interviews with Fox, he faced a “shadow ban” on TikTok.

Biden Is Not Competent

Jackson further stated in his Fox interview that he did not believe Biden was a competent leader. “I don’t believe that [Biden’s] a competent commander-in-chief, and he’d probably blame my death on climate change in the same way he blamed the pullout in Afghanistan on Donald Trump,” he claimed.

GOP Policies Should Include Service in Churches

He has also spoken out about Republican policymaking, stating, “I don’t think this should be just a general conversation about God. I think there should be actual policies that tie into the current problems in our country. One policy idea I’m really looking forward to someone talking about is: Why don’t we tie community service graduation requirements to churches? Make students do some community service in their churches.”

Jackson Said Lowering Voting Age “A Bad Idea.”

Jahmiel Jackson has also said in a separate Fox interview back in June that lowering the vote would be “a terrible idea.”

Young People Encouraged to Go to Drag Shows

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Jackson claimed that “children,” 16-year-olds, were being told they were “old enough to go to “sexual pride parades” and “drag shows” they were old enough to “consent to surgeries that physically change their body or even change their sex.” “And now we are being told that children are old enough to vote. 16-year-olds are,” Jackson added.

Democrats, Socialists or Radical Extremists

“So, are 16-year-olds old enough to own a handgun?” Jackson asked. He then stated that “Democrats, Socialists or radical extremists will tell you no.”

Democrats Push to Allow a Lower Voting Age

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Democrats have been actively seeking to lower the voting age. Democratic Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley had recently introduced new legislation saying that teen activists pushing for stricter gun controls were a reason to give 16-year-olds the right to vote.

Young People Are at the Forefront

Rep. Pressley stated, “Young people are at the forefront of some of our most existential crises,” She added, “The time has come. Our young people deserve to have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote.”

For the People Act

The introduction of the legislation would have overhauled federal election laws as an amendment to House Democrats’ “For The People Act.” However, it failed to pass, not garnishing enough votes.

GOP Pushes to Increase Voting Age

On opposite sides of the fence, some Republicans have been pushing to increase the voting age. GOP nominee Ramaswamy previously stated on X, “We are a constitutional republic. We need to revive civic duty among young Americans. That’s why I’m announcing my support for a constitutional amendment to raise the voting age from 18 to 25.”

Trump Accumulating More Younger Voters

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Historically, many young voters have tended to lean towards more liberal perspectives and favored Democratic candidates. Nevertheless, the latest Emerson poll indicates a notable trend where Trump is gaining increased support among younger voters.

Israel-Hamas War May Be the Reason

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The Quinnipiac Poll has highlighted that fewer young people are supporting Biden since the Israel-Hamas war began. The president’s lowest approval rating, 29%, is among voters aged 18 to 34. Likewise, the president’s favorability rating is at its lowest, with young voters at 25%. In this poll, young voters had a slightly more favorable opinion of Trump, with 28% expressing a favourable view.

The 2020 Election Saw Record Turnover

The US Census Bureau has released data that shows the 2020 presidential election witnessed the largest voter turnout since 2001, with 66.8% of citizens participating.

Only Half of Young Voters Turned Out in 2020

Nevertheless, the youngest demographic of voters exhibited the lowest turnout, as only 51.4% of those between 18 and 24 cast their ballots. In general, as age increased, voter turnout saw a corresponding increase.

Policies Repel Young People

As young people come out supporting GOP nominees, other young online users explained why they would not vote Republican. One user posted, “The GOP’s problem is that their policies repel young people.”

Republicans Wage War Against Change.

“This is my favorite answer here. Republicans really are waging a war against change, which is always a losing strategy, because change is inevitable,” said another user.

No Young Person Experienced a Good GOP Presidency

Another young voter explained, “As a 23 year old, literally no one around my age has experienced a good Republican presidency, all we’ve had is Bush and Trump. They are staunchly against almost everything my generation wants and instead of trying to appeal to moderates and young voters, they instead double down on whatever makes people dislike them.”