Young Men Cooling on Trump Ahead of Midterms

GOP confronts softening support from young male voters over Trump's policies and rhetoric

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Polling suggests a softening of support among young men over Trump's policies, threatening Republicans' hopes of retaining majorities in Congress. While the students interviewed form a small sample, their mixed reviews - including criticism of overly harsh immigration enforcement and frustration over rising prices - mirror a broader shift in national polling that shows the Republican president is losing ground with young male voters.

Why it matters

Young male voters were crucial to Trump's victory in 2024, but a decline in their support could jeopardize Republican chances in the upcoming midterm elections. This demographic shift reflects broader unhappiness among Americans over Trump's policies, particularly on economic issues that shape young people's daily lives.

The details

In interviews, young male Trump supporters at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire expressed disappointment with the president's handling of issues like high inflation and student debt, though they still broadly supported him. Some also criticized the aggressive tactics used by immigration authorities under Trump's crackdown. Polling shows Trump's approval rating among men aged 18-29 has dropped from 43% in 2025 to 33% last month, threatening GOP hopes of retaining their slim congressional majorities.

  • Last month, some 33% of men aged 18-29 approved of Trump's performance in the White House, down from 43% in February 2025.
  • Trump garnered the support of 46% of young males in the 2024 presidential election, up 7 points from 2020.

The players

Tyler Witzgall

A 20-year-old sophomore at Saint Anselm College who expressed disappointment in Trump's efforts to tackle domestic economic issues.

Ian Pomfret

A 20-year-old sophomore at Saint Anselm College who broadly supports Trump but criticized the aggressive tactics used by immigration authorities under his crackdown.

Chris Pappas

The Democratic frontrunner for an open Senate seat in New Hampshire, who has been working to build a following on TikTok and address the high cost of housing, a key concern for young voters.

Scott Brown

A former Republican senator from New Hampshire who is seeking the GOP nomination for the open Senate seat and is trying to connect with younger voters through his hobbies and social media presence.

John Della Volpe

A pollster who specializes in the Gen Z vote and says the evidence shows this cohort cannot be counted on at this stage to be reliable Republican voters, mostly because they haven't felt tangible improvements in their day-to-day lives.

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What they’re saying

“I'm still going to graduate and be in an enormous amount of debt. I won't be able to buy a home for a while.”

— Tyler Witzgall, 20-year-old sophomore (Reuters)

“The ICE thing is a huge problem. I feel like there is a better way of going about it than raiding and killing and instant deportation.”

— Ian Pomfret, 20-year-old sophomore (Reuters)

“If you ask someone in their 20s about owning a home, that seems like a far-off notion. We've got to make that dream within reach of more people.”

— Chris Pappas, Democratic frontrunner for open Senate seat (Reuters)

“It's not a stretch for me to walk in and start playing hoops with somebody or get up on stage and jam with some teenagers.”

— Scott Brown, Former Republican senator seeking GOP nomination (Reuters)

“It gets to a point where you need to have some bipartisanship, and I think that's gonna hit Trump hard after the midterms.”

— Tyler Delaney, 19-year-old freshman (Reuters)

What’s next

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The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.