A string of new polls show President Joe Biden’s approval rating falling by double-digits in the past year with Gen Z and millennials, even as former President Trump’s approval has inched up with young people.
A recent NPR/Marist poll found Biden’s approval rating fell 16 points among Gen Z and millennials in the past year, from 53% to just 37%. Gen Z and millennials view Biden unfavorably by a margin of 57% to 36%, while Trump’s favorable rating sits four points higher than Biden’s at 40%.
Gen Z and millennials view Biden unfavorably by a margin of 57% to 36%.
Harvard’s Institute of Politics found Biden’s approval rating with Gen Z fell 18 points in the past year, from 59% to 41%. Gallup found the steepest decline, showing President Biden’s approval rating plummeted 21-points with young people from 60% to just 39%.
The past year has seen a drop in real wages due to record-high inflation, an immigration crisis on the southern border, and a tumultuous foreign policy situation in Ukraine. A plurality of young people say the GOP is better positioned to act on issues like national security, inflation, and the economy.
The NPR/Marist poll found Gen Z and millennials say 42% to 16% the GOP is better positioned than the Democratic Party to deal with national security issues.
Young Americans also say the GOP is better positioned to handle the economy by an almost two to one margin (21% to 39%) and young people disapprove of Biden’s handling of the economy 58% to 31%.
Young Americans say the GOP is better positioned to handle the economy by an almost two to one margin (21% to 39%).
When it comes to controlling inflation Gen Z and millennials say the GOP is better positioned to control inflation by over a two-to-one margin (37% to 14%). The GOP is also seen by Gen Z and millennials as better able to combat crime by a margin of 30% to 23%.
Gen Z and millennials say the GOP is better positioned to get inflation under control by over a two-to-one margin (37% to 14%).
Somewhat surprisingly, Gen Z and millennials also concur the GOP is better positioned to make laws dealing with gun policy by a margin of 40% to 29%.
Although young people say the Democratic Party is better able to deal with LGBTQ issues and climate change than the GOP, these issues are not near the top of the list for most Americans, including a majority of young voters.
Gen Z and millennials combined represent the largest voting bloc in the United States, with 65 million young people eligible to vote this year. Their impact in the midterms and the 2024 presidential election will be substantial.
Market Research Foundation began looking at Gen Z as a separate economic-political force in 2018, after an increasing body of research made it obvious this was a necessity.
Our polling finds overwhelming support among Gen Z for non-interventionalist foreign-policy, strong border security, and the rule of law.
- 73% of Generation Zers support an “America First” philosophy, where the primary goal of any law or policy must be to focus on the needs of Americans, even if they are not in line with the interests of foreign nations and allies.
- 68% of Generation Z Republicans, an equal share of Generation Z Democrats (68%) and 71% of Generation Z Independents think the U.S. should stay out of international conflicts and only become involved when we are forced to.
- 58% of Generation Zers say it doesn’t matter if illegal immigrants cause problems; if they came here illegally, they need to leave or go through the proper procedures to stay. This stance is supported by 86% of Generation Z Republicans, 61% of Generation Z Independents, and 42% of Generation Z Democrats.
Biden’s inability to quell rising inflation, crime, and illegal immigration appear to be souring young people on the Democratic Party as well as his presidency. The Republican Party is seen by young Americans as superior at dealing with inflation, handling foreign conflicts, fixing the economy, and creating gun laws, issues that will be pivotal in the midterms this year.
