An American who left the US after Donald Trump’s 2024 election win has spoken about what she fears it could mean for Gen Z.
Skylar Lyralen Kaye, a 66-year-old author who identifies as non-binary, had already been preparing to relocate during Trump’s first term. When he returned to office for a second stint, Skylar says the decision to go became urgent.
Despite the move, Skylar has stressed it wasn’t something they wanted, explaining: “I did not want to leave this time, I left my marriage, I had my own place, I lived right near the ocean, I loved my life.”
Now based in Portugal, Skylar continues to follow developments in the US from across the Atlantic. And while they are no longer living under the current administration, they say their biggest worry is for young Americans — particularly Gen Z.
Skylar said they know many people in Gen Z, adding that a lot of them are queer — and one recent conversation stuck with them in particular. They recalled: “I know a lot of Gen Z people, most of them are queer. But nobody said what this man said to me, and he said, ‘This is all I’ve known. I was a child during the Obama administration. All I’ve known as an adult is Trump and then four years of not Trump and then Trump again.’
“I don’t know what that does to a generation that you grow up with fascism and terror.”
Skylar also said they are “frightened” about what they described as the “personal impact” the current political climate could be having on younger people.
“I think there’s a possibility that finally things have gotten bad enough,” Skylar continued.
“You know, the American people are no longer complacent. There are protests and all over the country, the red states, there are protests against Trump.”
As the midterm elections approach, recent polling suggests Trump faces significant resistance among younger voters. A March survey by The Economist and YouGov painted a bleak picture of his standing with Gen Z.
The poll surveyed 1,595 adults in the US between March 13 and 16, a period that came only weeks after the joint US-Israel attack on Iran.
Among respondents aged 18 to 29, just 25 percent said they approved of Trump’s performance in office, while 64 percent said they disapproved.
In net terms, that left the president with an approval rating of minus 39 among Gen Z in the survey results.
Reacting to the findings, White House spokesman Davis Ingle told press: “The ultimate poll was November 5, 2024, when nearly 80 million Americans overwhelmingly elected President Trump to deliver on his popular and common‑sense agenda.”