An 18,000-person survey released in January 2026 offers a stark look at how some young Americans view power, democracy, and the limits of authority. According to More in Common’s “Beyond MAGA: A Profile of the Trump Coalition,” a significant share of Trump supporters ages 18–29 say constitutional guardrails can be set aside if doing so helps Donald Trump “fix” the country. The findings suggest a generational shift inside the right, one where loyalty and urgency can outweigh institutional restraint. Here’s what’s happening beneath the surface and why it matters.
Young Voters Rethink Limits on Power
For decades, younger Americans were seen as more protective of democratic institutions than their elders. Newer data suggest that assumption no longer holds across all groups. In the November 2025 survey wave behind the Beyond MAGA report, More in Common finds that young Trump voters are notably more open than older Trump supporters to expansive executive power.
Many express comfort with Trump “testing the boundaries” of constitutional constraints when they believe core priorities are at stake. This shift reflects not just frustration with government, but a recalibration of how power should operate during moments perceived as crisis.
The January 20, 2026 release highlights that this mindset is strongest among the most intensely pro-Trump segments. For these voters, clashes with institutions like the Supreme Court are not necessarily disqualifying if they believe outcomes justify the means.
The 48 Percent Who Would Bypass the Court
One finding stands out sharply. About 48 percent of Trump voters under 30 agree that Trump should “fix the country even if it means ignoring the Supreme Court” when the Court blocks his agenda. Researchers stress that this was framed as conditional, not a blanket rejection of judicial authority.
Still, the implication is significant. Comfort with executive defiance appears tied to whether actions align with personal political goals. Using 2024 exit polls showing Trump gaining ground among voters ages 18–29, this translates into millions of Americans.
For many, constitutional guardrails are viewed as flexible rather than fixed when stakes feel existential. That mindset challenges long-held assumptions about youth, legality, and democratic norms.
Enthusiasm, Identity, and Early Adulthood
Stephen Hawkins, global research director for More in Common, frames the findings as a warning about long-term political identity. He notes that early adulthood is when political identities often solidify, giving these attitudes outsized importance.
Young Trump voters, Hawkins says, combine antagonism toward existing institutions with a reformist desire to “shake things up.” Over time, that mix could normalize challenges to checks and balances rather than treat them as exceptions.
Hawkins argues that which direction “garners more enthusiasm and proves to be more enduring” will determine whether skepticism toward courts moderates with age or becomes a lasting feature of right-leaning youth politics.
Masculinity, Hierarchy, and Strong Leadership
The Beyond MAGA report also documents sharp age divides on gender and family roles. Roughly a quarter of young Trump voters endorse ideas like “the man should lead and the woman should follow,” a higher share than among older Trump voters.
Nearly half also agree that American culture has become “too feminine” and needs more masculinity. These views often align with support for a forceful presidency and a belief in strong, hierarchical leadership.
Other research points in a similar direction. Large international surveys by institutions like King’s College London show young men more likely than older men to say gender equality efforts have “gone too far,” reinforcing a sense of cultural displacement that fuels strongman-style politics.
Stress, Distrust, and Existential Politics
Economic pressure runs through nearly all youth polling. The Fall 2025 Harvard Youth Poll finds many 18–29-year-olds struggling with housing costs, inflation, and debt. More in Common reports roughly seven in ten Trump voters cite cost of living stress.
Those under the greatest strain are also more open to aggressive, quick-fix policies, even when they clash with institutional norms. At the same time, distrust is widespread. Harvard’s 51st Youth Poll describes young adults as under “profound strain,” with low trust in Congress, the presidency, and national media.
Jordan Schwartz of Harvard’s Public Opinion Project warns that these forces have “shattered young Americans’ trust,” calling it “a five-alarm fire” for democratic stability.
What This Means for Democracy Ahead
Taken together, the findings paint a picture of a fragmented but intense political moment. More in Common shows Trump’s coalition united by distrust of the “establishment,” yet divided on rules, norms, and limits. The openness of 48 percent of young Trump voters to Trump ignoring the Supreme Court stands out as a warning sign.
At the same time, many young Americans are stepping away from both parties. Gallup’s 2025 data show 45 percent of adults identifying as independents, including majorities of Gen Z and millennials. That fragility suggests loyalties may be conditional rather than permanent.
Whether today’s willingness to bypass constitutional limits hardens into identity or fades with changing conditions will shape American democracy well beyond 2026.
Sources:
Beyond MAGA: A Profile of the Trump Coalition. More in Common, January 20, 2026.
Survey of Young Americans’ Attitudes Toward Politics and Public Service, 51st Edition (Fall 2025). Harvard Institute of Politics, November 7, 2025.
New High of 45% in U.S. Identify as Political Independents. Gallup, January 7, 2026.