Gen Z's 8% Participation in Anti-Trump Protests Raises Concerns, Dartmouth Professor Argues

Dartmouth Professor Brendan Nyhan, a political scientist, recently highlighted a significant disparity in protest participation, noting that only 8% of Americans aged 18 to 29 engaged in recent anti-Trump demonstrations. This figure stands in stark contrast to the 13% participation rate observed among those aged 65 and older, as detailed in his New York Times op-ed published on November 24, 2025. Nyhan's piece, titled "The Boomers Are Protesting Trump. Where Is Gen Z?", underscores a perceived absence of younger generations from conventional political activism.

Nyhan pointed to the "No Kings" movement, which drew an estimated five million people in October, as an example where older demographics largely outnumbered younger participants. He stated, "The absence of young people from conventional protests is both a problem and a warning." This trend marks a "sharp reversal" from the George Floyd protests in June 2020, when 13% of 18-to-29-year-olds reported attending events, representing four in 10 of all protesters.

The op-ed suggests that Gen Z's relative absence may stem from a sense of demobilization and demoralization. Nyhan argued that previous movements, such as the racial justice movement of 2020 and the Gaza protests, ended in "disappointment and backlash" or failed to deliver "clear political or policy victories." He also noted that the return of Donald Trump to the White House might contribute to a feeling of futility among young activists.

Furthermore, Nyhan criticized the Democratic Party, describing it as "dominated by a decadent gerontocracy," which he believes may not inspire younger voters. He emphasized that the challenge lies in developing "new strategies that will engage a wider swath of the population" to effectively counter perceived threats to democracy. The professor concluded that the current form of conventional protest may not offer the "morally compelling form of resistance that can deliver results" that young people seek.