White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt made critical remarks about her generation, Gen Z, during an appearance on Jesse Watters Primetime. Speaking with Fox News host Jesse Watters, Leavitt accused Gen Z of being raised with “silver spoons in their mouth” and described them as “a little bit” lazy. She criticized young Democratic voters who support progressive candidates.
Watters and Leavitt discussed young Democrats supporting candidates like New York City’s Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whom President Donald Trump labeled “godless communists.” These candidates won primaries backed by young voters. Watters commented on young people in their twenties who complain about expenses without having “real jobs.” Leavitt agreed, stating, “My generation has been raised with just silver spoons in their mouths, just getting everything handed to them. That’s not the values this country was built on.” She emphasized traditional American values like meritocracy and hard work.
“The country was built on meritocracy and hard work, pulling up your sleeves, pulling yourself up from your bootstraps,” Leavitt stated.
Watters suggested that young people who misbehave should join the army, while Leavitt proposed sending them to Cuba or Iran, suggesting they would want to return quickly. Newsweek reached out to the White House for comments regarding the statements.
The criticism of Gen Z aligns with previous labels assigned to millennials, who faced blame for financial struggles due to their lifestyle choices. Gen Z’s economic concerns include inflation and rising housing costs, with their financial hardships compared now with iced matcha lattes.
Gen Z’s Economic Concerns
A CNBC and SurveyMonkey survey showed that 42 percent of Gen Zers view the American Dream as achievable only for some, with just 22 percent claiming they achieved their version of it. Comparatively, 68 percent of baby boomers feel they have achieved their own American Dream.
The rising cost of living is the primary reason (81 percent) cited by 45 percent of Americans from all generations who lack confidence in achieving the American Dream, followed by housing prices (60 percent), healthcare costs (49 percent), and low wages (47 percent).
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates unemployment among Gen Z workers is higher compared to older groups. Home prices have increased by approximately 60 percent since the pandemic began, and mortgage rates have risen, making homeownership challenging for Gen Z.
Recent surveys show disillusionment with President Trump among Gen Z, potentially impacting the outcome of the upcoming elections. An Economist/YouGov poll revealed Trump’s net approval among young Americans is at minus 45, the lowest in its tracking series.
Party Affiliation among Gen Z
Gallup data shows neither major political party is capturing the majority of Gen Z’s support. 17 percent of Gen Zers identify as Republicans, 27 percent as Democrats, and 56 percent as Independents.
Editors to contact for this story are Tobias Meyjes and Gray R. Thomas.
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