When Donald Trump launched his 2016 presidential candidacy almost a decade, Gen Z was between 9 and 16 years old. Now, as an adults, men of generation Z say that the president has defined the opinions of masculinity and leadership, while others say that they want nothing like.
Four young men joined the GBH News series
IRL policy
To talk about Trump and its impact on their generation, and those who follow them.
Chukwuemeka “BJ” Osuagwu, a 26 -year -old independent, said that Trump was “not a leader I think we should follow”, noting negative rhetoric and the lies used by the president to obtain support.
Osuagwu said: “My problem is that masculinity that seems to be perpetrated by Trump is that of masculinity that has been intrinsically dangerous for people on history.”
But Neko Kady, a 19 -year -old Republican, said it was a necessary danger, especially when it comes to showing his strength on foreign policy. He noted that Trump represents the political galvanization of the “male movement”, which has been preparing for a long time, especially among young men who missed life experience during the pandemic.
“They may have lost themselves or look for a model,” Kady said about young men gravitating to Trump.
Alex Hagerty, a 30 -year -old Republican, returned to 2024
attempted assassination on Trump
And the powerful photo that was captured during the chaotic moment.
“He raised his fist in the air and said,” Fight, fight, fight “. I think not only that it is only a male trait, but I think it is also something that embodies the American spirit, “said Hagerty.
Young men also discussed how their impressions around the Trump campaign were shaped by the “Manosphere”, which refers to podcasts and other media promoting masculinity and sometimes misogyny.
“I don’t think it was just a coincidence. I think they deliberately made these podcasts like Joe Rogan. … I think it was, you know, a deliberate attempt to try to bring young men into the lap of Maga, “said Trey Fuccillo, a 22 -year -old democrat.
The panel shared examples of men in politics they admire. Fuccillo mentioned the former American senator and attorney general, Bobby Kennedy, while Hagerty said that Michael Sullivan was a model. Sullivan is a former representative of the State of Massachusetts, district prosecutor and American lawyer. He is now a partner of the Ashcroft law firm in Boston.
Osuagwu said his most admired politician is the late Fred Hampton, National Chief of the Black Panther Party who also founded the Rainbow Coalition. Kady said that he had respected George Galloway, leader of the Great Britain workers.
Watch the complete conversation by clicking on the video at the top of the page.
In the series of Politics IRL videos, we give young voters the opportunity to sit face to face and speak openly about the subjects that motivated them to vote – or not – in the general elections of 2024. They choose what to discuss. We see their policy – in real life. If you are a young voter, or if you know the one who may want to participate in our series, please connect with the main producer Alexi Cohan by e-mail to
alexi_cohan@gbh.org.