Generational GOP Divide on War is Very Real

NY Times Sienna Poll Shows Breakdown

George McGovern once said, “I’m fed up to the ears with old men dreaming up wars for young men to die in.”

It was the height of the Vietnam War, and anger over the draft and rising American casualties split the country into two, dividing the generations. Yet even while the war in the South Pacific raged, there was a vocal and loud contingent of young Republicans who believed the war could be won if America fought on, if we considered using nuclear weapons, and insisted we could never let the Communists win.

Half a century later, we find ourselves in a much different situation; there is no draft, images of dead Americans are being broadcast on the news, and young Republicans believe the juice of endless war is no longer worth the squeeze.

The New York Times/Siena poll asked Republicans a series of foreign policy questions about the war with Iran and the future of American intervention, and the divide is stark.

When asked if they approve of the war in Iran, 75 percent of Republican voters over 45 who get their news largely from cable news approve of the war, compared to just 22 percent who disapprove. Among GOP voters between 18 and 44, they oppose the war 53 percent to 39 percent.

On the question of whether the War in Iran was the right decision or wrong decision, 72 percent of older Republicans said it was the right decision, while 40 percent of younger Republicans said the same.

And by a 2-to-1 margin, Republican voters under 45 said the war with Iran will not be worth the cost. An outright majority of those 45 and older said it will be worth the cost.

Israel and Palestine have the most extreme divide between the two.

Republican voters over 45 are still overwhelmingly sympathetic to Israel and the Jewish people’s homeland, with 74 percent approving of Trump’s actions when it comes to the conflict between Israel and Palestine. GOP voters between 18-44, however, disapprove by a margin of 55 to 36.

When asked if they support aid to Israel, an issue that was considered not only non-controversial among Republicans but broadly bipartisan, 72 percent of Republicans older than 45 said they supported additional economic and military support to Israel—the number craters to just 33 percent among GOP voters under 45.

This isn’t a shift on just one or two issues in foreign policy, but an overall shift in the minds of younger Republicans, many of whom voted for Trump for his promise of no new wars and his status as the pro-peace candidate.

When asked if the best course of action is to be active in world affairs to maintain security and prosperity, or pay less attention to problems overseas and concentrate more on problems here at home, older Republicans were split. Still, they had a stronger neoconservative lean, with 53 percent supporting a more robust foreign policy and 40 percent favoring a more humble one.

Among younger Republicans, 71 percent wanted to focus more on domestic issues, while 25 percent believed we should play a more active role in global affairs.

The Iran War and Trump’s unfavorable ratings on the economy have led younger voters to say they want the 2028 GOP nominee to move in a new direction on several issues, rather than Trump.

• 60 percent want an overall new direction, while 33 percent want to follow Trump’s lead.

• 70 percent want a new direction when it comes to Israel, while only 20 percent wanted to follow Trump’s lead.

• 54 percent believe the U.S. has been too supportive of Israel, while 77 percent of older Republicans believe the U.S. has had the correct level of support or not supportive enough.

• 56 percent want a new direction on Iran, compared to 35 percent who want to follow Trump’s lead.

• They split on tariffs: 44 percent of younger Republicans want to follow Trump’s lead, while 47 percent want a new direction.

The only issue where a large majority of both young and older Republicans don’t want the future GOP nominee to differ from Trump is on immigration.

America’s divide over foreign policy isn’t isolated to young liberals on college campuses or in deep blue parts of cities like Brooklyn or Silver Lake. This divide will also change the GOP, whether older voters like it or not.