Young conservatives gathered at the Young America's Foundation's America at 250 conference in Washington, D.C., identified economic affordability, border security, and the impact of artificial intelligence and social media as primary concerns for their generation. The students, attending the event from July 6 to July 8, believe these issues are driving some of their peers toward ideologies like democratic socialism.
Courtney Graves, a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, stated that many young people feel "hopeless" due to economic challenges, such as the difficulty of purchasing a home. A Pew Research Center survey indicated that 87% of Americans find buying a home harder for young adults today than for their parents' generation. A Harvard University report found that nearly half of renters spent over 30% of their income on housing in 2024. Graves, whose grandparents emigrated from Latvia, argued that free-market policies are the most effective path to achieving the American Dream and that the Republican Party needs to improve its communication on this topic.
"I think free markets are the way to have a successful and prosperous life," Graves said. "It's what leads to job growth, it's what leads to being able to buy a home at the end of the day, have a family and just overall live a great quality of life and have a strong country."
Brody Baker, a student at the University of Iowa, praised former President Donald Trump for bringing "clarity" to the White House, contrasting it with the current administration. He acknowledged that issues like high gas prices and economic impacts are affecting individuals differently.
Jackson Barrick, a senior at the University of Minnesota, cited immigration and border security as significant concerns, in addition to economic issues. He described Trump's immigration enforcement agenda as a "fantastic" step towards securing the nation's future.
Nick Kammerzell, a recent graduate of the University of Georgia, expressed significant worry about artificial intelligence, particularly regarding censorship and bias within AI platforms. He voiced concerns that young people are increasingly relying on AI as a source of truth, creating opportunities for manipulation and the distortion of opinions. A June Pew Research Center survey found that 48% of adults aged 18 to 29 anticipate a negative impact from AI on society over the next two decades, compared to 37% of those aged 50 and older.
Baker also raised concerns about the algorithms used by social media companies, suggesting they push users toward specific agendas or ideas, contributing to political polarization.