Gen Z Trump Voters Weigh In on Iran War

Conservative students at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley share their perspectives before the ceasefire deal.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 2:20am

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A dynamic, abstract painting featuring overlapping geometric shapes and waves of red, white, and blue colors, conveying a sense of motion and tension around the topic of the US-Iran conflict.Gen Z conservatives voice strong support for an assertive US stance toward Iran, even as the prospect of escalating conflict looms.Edinburg Today

CNN spoke with a group of conservative Gen Z students at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg, Texas, to get their views on the ongoing conflict with Iran, prior to the announcement of a ceasefire agreement.

Why it matters

As the next generation of voters, Gen Z's perspectives on major foreign policy issues like the Iran conflict provide insight into the shifting political landscape and how younger conservatives are thinking about America's role in the world.

The details

The students expressed strong support for President Trump's hardline approach toward Iran, with one saying 'we can't back down' and another arguing that the US needs to 'show strength' against Iran's aggression. They voiced concerns about the potential for the conflict to escalate and the impact it could have on the US economy and national security.

  • The interviews were conducted before the announcement of a ceasefire deal between the US and Iran.

The players

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

A public university located in Edinburg, Texas, that has a sizable population of conservative-leaning students.

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The takeaway

The perspectives of these Gen Z Trump supporters highlight the continued partisan divide over foreign policy issues, as well as the potential for the Iran conflict to be a key factor in the political calculus of younger conservative voters in the years ahead.