Affordability. Cost of living. Rent. Housing. These aren’t just political buzzwords, they’re daily obstacles for all Americans, but especially young ones. Young people are confronting increasingly expensive *everything*. High rent, unaffordable college education, and shaky job prospects are just a few of their most pressing economic concerns. Saddled with student loans (and unsure if a traditional college degree will actually pay off in an AI-dominated world), young Americans are wary of taking on long-term debt. The American Dream is obviously changing. It’s not that Gen Z doesn’t value traditional life goals like higher education, marriage, children, or home ownership — those milestones are just increasingly inaccessible.
Zohran Mamdani tapped into this reality in New York City and struck a chord with young people across the country as a result. Now, other politicians are taking note.
Most notably, President Donald Trump. In a Truth social post, Trump pitched a 50-year mortgage, conceivably something that was supposed to signal he’s listening to young Americans on housing and make it appear more affordable to young buyers by spreading payments over a longer period. But it didn’t hit.
It’s the latest in a series of moves that have left Trump voters increasingly disillusioned. Couple that with anti-Trump rhetoric from right-wing influencers like the controversial Nick Fuentes (who declared this week that “MAGA is dead”), and things aren’t looking so hot for Trump, who was praised this time a year ago for his ability to connect with young men especially.
According to YouGov:
Trump had a 44.6.% favorability rating with registered voters under 30 last January.
Now, that number is at 34%.
When you look at YouGov’s tracker on young men specifically:
Trump had a 55.7% favorability rating with registered young men under 30 when he took office in January.
Now, that number is 47.1%.
This week, I checked in with Trump 2024 voters in The Up and Up Community — men and women — to hear their thoughts on his 50-year mortgage idea.
Not a single one I spoke to is for it.
I also asked how they’re feeling about his second term more broadly. The results were mixed. Some remain bullish. One said Trump 2.0 feels like “betrayal.”
He put it bluntly:
“My anger on his words and decisions recently is something I’ve never felt for a politician.”
Here’s what I heard.
🔑 What You’ll Unlock: Highlights from this edition
Quotes from a former Trump supporter
Why a 50-year mortgage is perceived as a “bandaid on a gaping wound”
My take on young voters’ fickle loyalty