Gen Zers Reaction to the First Debate? ‘It’s Getting Scary Out Here’

By Kiara Santos, Mattie Moore, and Imani Waters | Philadelphia Tribune Staff Writers

Across the board, initial reactions to the first presidential debate have been mixed after Thursday night’s standoff between President Joe Biden and former Republican President Donald Trump.

The first debate was a historic one. Never before in modern history has a debate been held before the national party conventions. Non-traditional tactics were applied to the opposing candidates: muted microphones, additional space between the podiums, and an empty audience.

Four years ago, Biden beat Trump winning over a number of demographics, specifically younger voters. But polling numbers in 2024 suggest that support with this crucial voting bloc has fallen. The Tribune spoke to members of Generation Z, which consists of persons born between 1997 and 2012, and got their thoughts on the candidates’ performance.

For some Gen Zers, November may be the first time voting in a presidential election.

They weighed in on what topics matter the most to them and their peers, what sentiments they felt towards the candidates’ platforms, and what was left to be desired from the next presidential administration.

The showdown between the political opponents covered the economy, abortion rights and more. Biden jabbed at Trump’s recent 34-count convictions and Trump criticized Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, who was recently convicted of felonies in a federal gun trial.

According to an analysis by The New York Times, Biden spent roughly one-third of his speaking time personally attacking Trump as Trump spent nearly one-half of his time attacking the current president.

“I feel like neither spoke with confidence on the issues,” said Philadelphia Regional Director of PA Youth Vote, Kamryn Davis. —TRIBUNE PHOTO / IMANI WATERS

“I feel like neither spoke with confidence on the issues,” said Philadelphia Regional Director of PA Youth Vote, Kamryn Davis. “That would make the youth of Pennsylvania feel comfortable voting in this election.”

Davis, 23, also noted the urgent need for the candidates to connect with young voters and “genuinely address” issues that pertain most to Gen Z’s future.

“I think they need to come and talk to the young people and see how they feel about issues because right now it’s not that young people don’t care about the issues that are on their ballot. It’s just they don’t feel like they’re going to genuinely address [the issues].”

President Joe Biden, right, and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, left, during a presidential debate hosted by CNN, Thursday in Atlanta. On the far right is CNN moderator Dana Bash. —AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

Most felt neglected by the campaigning surrounding the presidential nominees. Despite assumptions, Generation Z in the 2022 midterm elections voted more than previous generations at their respective ages. Topics like Roe V. Wade, gun policies, student loan debt, and inflation were highlighted the most in The Tribune’s interviews.

One high schooler, Ava Moore, 18, prompted her political stance by emphasizing the impact of gun violence and its threat across the U.S.

“Every day when you see the news or hear the news, it’s always shootings at different parts of the world, and [the candidates] constantly keep on saying that y’all are going to change it, y’all are going to fix it, and it’s [going] to be demands, but I don’t see any of that,” Moore said. “It’s just constant more killing and more people losing loved ones.”

According to a recent CBS news poll, 66 percent of voters aged 18-29 said they were planning on voting in the week prior to the debate. Additionally, 34 percent of the same age group are registered to vote, and 59 percent plan to still vote even while dissatisfied with their options.

Many of the Gen Z’ers that The Tribune approached felt they are stuck choosing between “the two evils” when voting for this upcoming election; feeling apathetic towards the potential of the two candidates’ policies.

The second presidential debate is scheduled for Sept. 10.

Sierrah Rodgriguez, 20, is a third-year student at Drexel University said despite holding views of feeling the need to choose between unfavorable options, she still plans to cast her vote in November.

“It’s getting scary out here, so we do really have to make a decision and not just write in just a random person because our votes do count and it does come down to every single vote,” she said.