Fox News host Jesse Watters tore into Gen Z voters backing Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) candidates, questioning whether their support stems from “laziness” rather than genuine political conviction.
The debate came after DSA-aligned candidates swept multiple primary elections in New York and Colorado, defeating established Democratic incumbents with heavy Gen Z support.
“SOME OF THESE KIDS—AND I CALL THEM ‘KIDS’ BECAUSE THEY’RE IN THEIR 20S AND THEY’VE NEVER HAD REAL JOBS AND THEY’RE COMPLAINING THINGS ARE EXPENSIVE. YES, THINGS ARE EXPENSIVE WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE A REAL JOB.”
Watters pressed White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on whether Gen Z’s socialist turn was driven by entitlement or something deeper. Leavitt, herself a millennial, didn’t mince words.
“Unfortunately, I do, because this generation—my generation, I hate to say it—Gen Z and those younger than me, have been raised with just silver spoons in their mouths, just getting everything handed to them,” Leavitt said. “That’s not the values this country was built on. It was built on meritocracy and hard work, pulling up your sleeves, pulling yourself up from your bootstraps, and achieving the American dream.”
When Watters asked directly if it was laziness, Leavitt replied, “A little bit.”
But she also pointed to another culprit: “It’s laziness and it’s the liberal indoctrination. You bring up a great point about our education system.”
Watters suggested university professors were feeding students a narrative that America is “corrupt” and “evil” and needs to be shaken down for handouts.
The exchange drew fire from Nalin Haley, son of former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and himself a 24-year-old member of Gen Z.
Ironically, calling an entire generation lazy instead of addressing real problems with cost of living, housing, and employment…IS LAZY. It’s tough even for people that work hard, save, and have good jobs.
The goal of every generation is to leave it better than you found it.… https://t.co/xH6BzlPdmt
— Nalin Haley (@Nalin_Haley) July 3, 2026
“Ironically, calling an entire generation lazy instead of addressing real problems with cost of living, housing, and employment…IS LAZY,” Haley posted to X Friday. “It’s tough even for people that work hard, save, and have good jobs. The goal of every generation is to leave it better than you found it. That’s simply not happening.”
Haley went further, slamming both parties as “controlled by elites and corporate interests” and arguing that neither Democrats nor Republicans are addressing the economic squeeze facing young Americans.
The data backs up some of Gen Z’s economic frustration. The Department of the Treasury reported in December 2024 that costs for housing, childcare, healthcare, and education have outpaced wage growth since 1990, while non-housing debt nearly doubled from 1989 to 2022. Many Gen Z adults still live with their parents.
Under the Biden administration, inflation hit four-decade highs, with prices rising over 20% and the Consumer Price Index peaking at 9% in June 2022. Experts attributed the surge to Biden’s hostility toward fossil fuel production and massive federal spending.
Unemployment for Gen Z also runs higher than the national average. Those aged 16-19 face a 14.6% unemployment rate, while those 20-24 hit 7.1%—compared to the overall rate of 4.2%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
When the first Gen Z members were born in 1997, the national debt stood at $5.7 trillion. As of Thursday, it sits at $39.375 trillion—a nearly 591% increase.
Generation Z, born between 1997 and 2012, grew up with smartphones and social media and was particularly affected by COVID-19 lockdowns, which left significant learning gaps due to remote schooling replacing in-person instruction.
