For many young men in the MAGA movement (Make America Great Again), the war in the Middle East is the last straw. Since Donald Trump returned to power, disappointments have been piling up for this key group that played a determining role in his 2024 victory.
“I feel betrayed,” 19-year-old Razi Marshall bluntly tells us at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Dallas.
The young man is disappointed by the president, who had promised to end the “endless wars.” He fears entanglement in Iran and the political consequences for the Republican Party.
“The midterm elections will be a bloodbath for the Republicans,” he tells us among the MAGA merchandise stands.
Further down, a group named Republicans for National Renewal conduct a makeshift survey. The question is simple: for or against war in Iran?
Participants are invited to place a peanut in a jar to express their opinion. Both jars were nearly equally filled during our visit. The exercise is not scientific, but one thing is certain, the conflict divides.
Alec Beaton, 23, from Michigan, is part of the group that organized this survey. He minces no words. “I think this war is stupid. We should put America first. I believe that by going to war with Iran, we prioritize the interests of Israel,” he argues.
This line of thought has gained traction among the MAGA youth, echoing opinions expressed by right-wing and extreme-right influencers who question the unconditional support of the United States for Israel. This includes the famous host Tucker Carlson: “It happened because Israel wanted it,” he declared at the beginning of the American offensive in Iran.
Many young men see no reason to get off their couches to vote for [the Republican Party] in 2026.
“The majority of young men are becoming more independent. Young women too. They are disillusioned by both parties. The dominant feeling is that the system simply doesn’t work,” notes the researcher.
As for young Razi Marshall, he admits that he does not plan to vote this fall. “I don’t think either I or many of my right-wing Republican friends will vote this year,” he says.
Undertaking to energize the troops, young Republicans are trying to fight the disengagement of the Trumpist base. They organize events and are active on social media. They started their TikTok account, and their number of subscribers is increasing every day.
For Gavin Whitaker, president of the Northeast Texas Young Republicans group, it is a lifestyle that is at stake. He wants a country where gas prices are low and where he can practice shooting without being bothered, he summarizes.
Time is running out for Donald Trump. The stakes are high. How can he reconnect with the aspirations of MAGA youth, the future of his movement?
