Can-Do Spirit: Trump Appeals to Gen Z

For what feels like an eternity, the Republican Party has been portrayed as the domain of stuffy, affluent white men, seemingly disconnected from the realities faced by working-class Americans, young individuals, and black and Latino voters.

After all, it’s the Grand Old Party.

However, everything shifted on November 5 with Donald Trump’s election, a trend that is only gaining momentum now that he is back in the Oval Office.

Trump gained significant support from black voters, achieving the highest vote share for a Republican in over half a century.

Latinos also turned out for the 45th, and now 47th, president in record numbers, marking their highest support ever for a GOP candidate.

Rank-and-file union members heavily favored Trump: internal polling from the Teamsters Union revealed that 60% supported him.

Yet, it was the youth vote, specifically those under 30, that produced perhaps the most unexpected outcome.

CNN exit polls indicated that Trump won a plurality of voters aged 18 to 29 in pivotal swing states like Michigan and Wisconsin, a scenario none of the “experts” anticipated.

For reference, in 2020, Joe Biden enjoyed a 24-point lead among 18-to-29-year-olds nationally, outpacing Trump 60% to 36%.

Additionally, according to YouGov, Trump’s favorable rating among individuals under 30 was only 30% following the 2016 election.

Today, it stands at 53% — reflecting a 23-point increase.

When a recent CBS News poll asked if they felt “generally optimistic or pessimistic about the next four years with Donald Trump as president,” an impressive 67% of respondents aged 18 to 29 expressed positivity — a 2-to-1 ratio, making young voters the most optimistic demographic surveyed.

Though the president is 78, he seems to possess the enthusiasm of a Millennial, especially based on the whirlwind of events since his inauguration on Monday.

Furthermore, his Cabinet appears refreshingly youthful, particularly when compared to the current Democratic leadership.

Nancy Pelosi, Dick Durbin, Chuck Schumer, and Elizabeth Warren have presented themselves as frustrated figures, often coming across as if they were scolding the younger generation post-Trump’s victory.

In contrast, Trump’s team — most of whom are yet to be confirmed — includes Vice President J.D. Vance and UN Ambassador Elise Stefanik, both in their 40s, along with 43-year-old Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and FBI Director Kash Patel are both 44.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt holds the record as the youngest individual to occupy that role, at merely 27.

Even Trump’s Secretary of State and Attorney General, Marco Rubio (53) and Pam Bondi (59), respectively, appear significantly younger than their ages suggest.

This starkly contrasts with the Senate, where 71% of current senators are well past retirement age, being 70 or older.

It’s no surprise that nearly 80% of Americans support setting a maximum age limit for elected officials in Washington, as noted by Pew Research.

Meanwhile, the presence of black Trump supporters has left Democrats and their media allies in a state of disbelief.

A prime example is the tumultuous environment on “The View” on ABC, where “Republican” Ana Navarro assailed rapper Snoop Dogg for the perceived betrayal of performing at a Trump inauguration event.

“In 2017, you stood against Trump, yet here you are now . . . applauding him like a trained seal,” Navarro remarked, addressing Snoop.

This exemplifies the issue.

Navarro may not be significantly older but comes across as a disgruntled old-timer, while tuxedo-clad Snoop appeared to be enjoying himself immensely.

The atmosphere radiated joy during country superstar Carrie Underwood’s acapella performance at Trump’s inauguration or when the MAGA crowd cheered for Snoop later that evening, or when Trump showcased his YMCA dance with a sword in hand, all while dressed in a tuxedo.

If Trump’s presidency is successful — managing inflation, ensuring safety for Americans, securing borders, and bringing an end to foreign conflicts while cleaning up Washington and addressing “woke” culture — Vance may very well be positioned for his own presidential run in his 40s.

At its core, the public is seeking leaders who are optimistic and capable, starkly different from Biden, Schumer, and Pelosi.

That vision aligns with Trump, regardless of his age.

Likewise, it resonates with Vance.

It reflects in his Cabinet and team.

Currently, one party projects a sense of joy, while the other and its media allies are angry, preachy, and disconnected.

The sentiment of being angry and preachy hardly evokes the concept of unrestrained optimism — unlike a statement such as, “The golden age of America begins right now.”

Joe Concha is a Fox News contributor and the author of the upcoming book “The Greatest Comeback Ever: Inside Trump’s Big Beautiful Campaign.”