I watched something shift at Ole Miss in October 2025.

A student in a MAGA hat stood up during a JD Vance event and asked why America owes Israel anything. He questioned why we call them our greatest ally. He challenged the multi-hundred-billion dollar foreign aid package.

The packed student hall erupted in applause.

**Ted Cruz called it an "existential crisis" for the Republican Party.** He told Jewish Republicans they face a growing anti-Israel movement within their own ranks. The numbers back him up.

The Data Tells the Story

A September 2025 poll found that 22% of young conservatives ages 18-34 now side with Palestinians in the current conflict. Only 40% side with Israel.

That's a massive shift.

The Brookings Institution tracked the generational divide. Young Republicans aged 18-49 went from 35% unfavorable views of Israel to 50% unfavorable. Meanwhile, Republicans over 50 barely moved from 19% to 23%.

**The party is splitting along age lines.**

I see Gen Z refusing to fall for the blind propaganda that previous generations accepted. They question 9/11. They question COVID. They question Ukraine funding. Now they're questioning Israel.

Charlie Kirk Opened the Door

Charlie Kirk started this movement when he founded TPUSA at 19. He gave Gen Z the tools for critical thinking. He provoked thoughtful debate on college campuses. He asked real questions that guided young conservatives away from accepting everything the establishment fed them.

His podcast reached 500,000 to 750,000 downloads daily in 2024. His college tour produced around two billion views on social media.

**Then he broke from traditional conservative viewpoints on Israel.**

A few weeks before his death at 31, Charlie Kirk questioned Israel policy. He exposed the hypocrisy establishment Republicans showed when it came to Israel. He asked questions that didn't add up.

I believe they killed him for it.

Candace Owens Picked Up the Ball

Candace Owens now sits at #1 on Spotify podcast charts with 3.5 million downloads and views per episode. She overtook Joe Rogan in October 2025.

The establishment tried to destroy her reputation for questioning Israel influence. **The attacks only made her stronger.**

She maintains a 49/14% favorability rating among Gen Z conservatives. She devotes her entire life to Christ. She asks the same questions Charlie Kirk asked before his death.

Charlie Kirk created an army around his views of the Gen Z population. They realize they need to carry the ball forward.

The Establishment Sees What's Coming

JD Vance understands this shift will play a role in his 2028 presidential run. He takes a more generalized approach to retain Gen Z support. He recognizes their political importance.

Ted Cruz still tries to exercise his power. He doesn't see how everything is shifting beneath him.

The Washington Post published an article about young Republicans attracted to Trump's isolationist rhetoric who became disillusioned with devotion to Israel. One student at Xavier University said it plainly: "To be 'America First,' the Stars and Stripes must come before the Star of David."

**A Gallup poll from July 2025 shows only 32% of Americans approve of Israel's military action in Gaza.** That's a 10-point drop from September 2024.

What Happens Next

The Republican Party faces a choice. Gen Z conservatives are not going back to blind support of foreign aid packages. They're not accepting establishment talking points without evidence.

Charlie Kirk gave them permission to think critically. Candace Owens shows them how to stand firm under attack. The data proves this generation thinks differently than their parents.

Time will tell if Gen Z reshapes the party or breaks away entirely. But one thing is clear: the old playbook doesn't work anymore.

The Gen Z community is not falling for blind propaganda. That's inspiring to watch.