Can Trump Swipe Right on Young Voters

Here are key topics President Trump should focus on to connect with voters and strengthen his campaign:

1. Crypto

Referring back to President Trump’s speech at the Bitcoin conference, he highlighted his vision of positioning the U.S. as a global leader in technology. However, he didn’t provide specific details on how he plans to achieve this. To truly make this vision a reality, his team needs to educate him thoroughly on blockchain technology. While President Trump may be pro-crypto, without a deep understanding of blockchain, it will be difficult for him to craft meaningful plans on how to integrate Bitcoin and blockchain technology into real-world applications. 

One key step could be for President Trump to appoint a highly respected figure from the crypto community—someone who isn’t tied to institutional crypto—as his “Crypto Officer.” Yes, there should absolutely be a position dedicated to this within the government. This person’s role would focus exclusively on blockchain, ensuring that its full potential is realized in the U.S. and globally. It’s important that this individual has strong roots in the early Bitcoin movement because the fundamental purpose of Bitcoin is decentralization—it was created to avoid becoming a tool of institutions or governments. Having a leader without institutional ties ensures that Bitcoin, as well as blockchain technology, won’t be weaponized or co-opted by outside interests.

While making Bitcoin the U.S. reserve asset is a great idea, there’s so much more to explore. Blockchain offers countless potential use cases beyond just cryptocurrency. To truly tap into its possibilities, President Trump’s team must help him grasp the technology’s broader implications. This knowledge will enable him to consider how blockchain could positively impact not just the U.S. but the world. 

For instance, one powerful use case for blockchain is implementing Universal Basic Income (UBI). UBI proposes a system where all citizens receive regular, unconditional payments—something that could be facilitated and managed securely via blockchain. Consider how much corporations profit from the data we provide without compensation. A blockchain-based UBI system could help address these imbalances, ensuring that people receive value for their contributions to the digital economy.

In summary, while President Trump has expressed his goal of putting the U.S. at the forefront of technology, a clear, well-informed strategy is essential to achieve this. With the right guidance and leadership, the U.S. could be at the forefront of a technological revolution driven by blockchain.

2. Address the State of the Young Generation and His Plan on How to Support Them

If Donald Trump were to become president again and aimed to help the younger generation be successful, bringing younger voices into his administration could be a key strategy. Younger leaders often have a better grasp of the challenges facing Gen Z and Millennials, such as economic concerns, student debt, access to housing, and opportunities in emerging industries like technology, blockchain, and green energy.

Here are a few specific ways Trump could help the younger generation succeed:

Incorporate Younger Leaders in Decision-Making: Bringing younger people into key government positions would ensure that policies are reflective of the needs and aspirations of the younger generation. Whether it’s appointing younger Cabinet members or creating advisory councils of Gen Z and Millennial leaders, having fresh perspectives in the room could drive more innovative policy solutions.

Education: Instead of focusing solely on student debt relief, there can be more emphasis on addressing the root cause—skyrocketing tuition costs. Many universities in the U.S. have massive endowments that continue to grow, and some are operating more like hedge funds than educational institutions.

• Push for lower tuition based on endowment size: Universities with large endowments could be encouraged—or even required—to use a portion of their funds to reduce tuition. Some institutions are sitting on billions of dollars in endowments, while continuing to raise tuition. Trump could introduce policies that tie the growth of these endowments to tuition reductions or increased financial aid for students. This would ensure that educational institutions are using their wealth to directly benefit students, rather than just growing their financial portfolios.

• Tax reform for large endowments: Trump could propose tax reforms targeting universities with endowments over a certain threshold. Schools with massive endowments but high tuition costs could be required to contribute more to the public good by either lowering tuition or losing certain tax exemptions. This could incentivize schools to prioritize students over financial growth.

• Increased transparency and accountability: Colleges and universities should be more transparent about how they manage their endowments and whether those funds are being used to directly benefit students. Trump could push for legislation that requires universities to disclose how much of their endowment is being used for tuition reduction, scholarships, and other student benefits, helping hold these institutions accountable.

• Create tuition price caps for public universities: For public universities, Trump could propose federal tuition price caps. In exchange for federal funding, public universities could be required to freeze or lower tuition, making college more affordable for students across the country. This approach could pressure private universities to follow suit in order to remain competitive.

• Shift the focus to education, not profit: Many top universities are acting more like hedge funds than educational institutions, managing massive financial portfolios while tuition continues to rise. Trump could use his platform to call out this behavior, pushing universities to return to their core mission—educating young people. By addressing the financialization of higher education, he could shift the focus back to creating affordable and accessible learning opportunities.

This approach challenges the status quo and directly confronts how universities are managing their wealth while burdening students with crushing debt. By advocating for tuition reduction instead of merely treating the symptoms of student debt, Trump could take meaningful steps toward making education more accessible and fair for the younger generation. 

Invest in Tech and Innovation: The younger generation is increasingly involved in industries like Web3, blockchain, AI, and clean energy. Trump could stimulate these sectors through government grants, tax incentives, and innovation hubs, creating more jobs for young entrepreneurs and workers.

Encourage Homeownership and Affordable Housing: Many young people are struggling with housing affordability. Trump could focus on making housing more accessible to first-time buyers, perhaps through tax incentives, affordable loan programs, or subsidies for younger homeowners.

Youth Engagement in Politics: At times, mainstream media appears to show disillusionment among young voters. Trump could make a concerted effort to engage with younger voters and bring them into the fold by addressing the issues they care most about—social justice, economic inequality, and technology.

While bringing younger people into his administration would be a visible and symbolic move, real success would come from policies that tackle the core issues younger generations face. If Trump could address these areas effectively, it could make a lasting impact on the success of younger Americans.

In conclusion, if President Trump wants to win younger voters and secure a stronger foothold in the election, he can focus on the things I have mentioned. Tackling these issues head-on will resonate with the concerns of the younger generation and position him as a leader ready to shape the future. And hey, if he’s looking for an advisor to get it done right, I just might know someone he should hire!

Graphic courtesy to Evan Vucci, chief Washington photographer for the Associated Press.