GOP Faces Existential Problem: How to Court Millennials Who Dislike Trump
*By Carlo Versano*
Millennials now comprise the largest voting bloc in the country, and the [majority](http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2019/01/17/generation-z-looks-a-lot-like-millennials-on-key-social-and-political-issues/) of them do not approve of the sitting president.
That poses a problem for the GOP as it seeks to broaden its tent in anticipation of a future when Donald Trump is not on the ballot.
Trump's political calculus to appeal to his base ー an older, whiter, more conservative demographic ー is coming at the expense of his popularity among millennials, said Kristen Soltis Anderson, a Republican pollster and author of "The Selfie Vote: Where Millennials Are Leading America."
But Republicans' struggles to court younger voters predate Trump, and stem from the party being misaligned with younger generations on many cultural or social issues, Anderson said.
For millennials, who may already have been predisposed to favor more socially liberal candidates, the financial crisis became the defining moment that shaped their political ideologies, and many who lived through that event are now more open to the idea of big government and its role as problem-solver and regulator. That is in direct conflict with the long-held message of the GOP: the private sector solves the country's problems and creates wealth.
The irony, as Anderson noted, is that Trump could have been a president behind whom millennials could rally. His background as a non-ideological figure who once held some socially liberal views and came to Washington to shake things up may very well have scored him points with millennial voters, she said. "That kind of disruption could have been appealing to young people."
Instead, Trump took the opposite tack, making a hard right into divisive tribalism that does not appeal to such a diverse generation.
"Millennials like that America has become more diverse," Anderson said. "They're not afraid of social change."
To be fair, Trump's political strategy speaks to a larger problem for Republicans and Democrats alike in wooing moderate voters: the two-party primary system is built in such a way that any successful candidate has to play to the party's base in order to secure the nomination. That base is typically older and more set in its ways ー not leaving a lot of room for a message that would resonate with younger generations.
Anderson believes the GOP still has an opportunity to build a brand as the savvy, tech-forward party making government more efficient and accountable in an era when the internet has made speed, efficiency, and accountability qualities that voters value. But it is not a message that the Trump administration appears interested in advancing.
"That may be a Republican Party of days gone by," she said.
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/how-the-gop-could-win-over-millennial-voters-ahead-of-2020).
JetBlue made an unsolicited offer to buy low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines, potentially jeopardizing the original offer from Frontier Airlines. Several analysts sounding the alarm on JetBlue's proposed $3.6 billion merger, saying the deal doesn't quite make sense. Jim Corridore, Senior Insights Manager at Similarweb joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss.
The Biden administration is once again extending the pause on federal student loans payments — this time, through the end of August. In a statement, President Biden cited a recent analysis from the Fed that if the payments were to resume, millions of student loan borrowers would face significant "economic hardship, delinquencies, and defaults that could threaten America's financial stability." Sarah Foster, an analyst at Bankrate, breaks down the impact of the extension on borrowers, the economy, and the future of student loan forgiveness. "I think this is just an instance of the federal student loan forbearance program kind of creating additional uncertainty for borrowers, especially in the sense that these past four extensions from the Biden administration have kind of come at the 11th hour here," she said.
Thousands of cryptocurrency enthusiasts are gathering in Miami as the city builds its reputation as one of the key locations to develop the blockchain technology despite its underdog status.
Catching you up on what you need to know on April 7, 2022, with updates on Ukraine urging NATO for military aid for their war with Russia, the SEC investigating Amazon, microplastics being found deep inside human lungs for the first time, and more.
President Biden is trying to help Americans at the pump by tapping into U.S. oil reserves in an unprecedented way. He also announced several steps to punish oil companies. Lisa Whalen, automotive and mobility analyst at Morning Consult, joins Cheddar News to discuss.
U.S. markets closed higher to end Monday's session, with tech stocks leading the advance. Gene Goldman, Chief Investment Officer at Cetera Financial Group, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss the potential future of the major U.S. indexes, and how factors like policy moves from the federal reserve and the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war could impact volatility.
Prices at the pump have soared in recent months, and House Democrats pointed the finger at Big Oil on Wednesday during an adversarial congressional hearing.
Catching you up on what you need to know on April 6, 2022, with updates on the FDA’s meeting to discuss a second COVID booster shot, more on the war in Ukraine, tornadoes on the Gulf coast, a third suspect arrested in connection to the mass shooting in California, Darwin’s lost notebooks mysteriously returned, and more.
