Just wrapped the spring leg of my college speaking tour across the country with
@LeadershipInst at my Alma mater
@CatholicUniv — and honestly, it gave me a lot of hope for the next generation.
I spoke to students about faith, family, freedom, courage, conviction, and what it means to build a life instead of just reacting to one. About rejecting resentment culture. About choosing responsibility over victimhood. About becoming builders instead of professional complainers.
One thing became very clear:
Gen Z is not weak.
They’re searching.
Searching for truth.
Searching for meaning.
Searching for leaders who actually believe what they say.
I told students this everywhere I went:
“Hardship isn’t your excuse. Hard is your advantage.”
I talked about how the loudest voices online profit from keeping young people angry, isolated, and addicted to grievance — while real conservatism calls people to build:
Families.
Businesses.
Communities.
Lives rooted in faith and purpose.
And the biggest response I got all tour?
Family.
Young people are starving for someone to tell them that marriage, children, faithfulness, responsibility, and loving your country are still noble things worth pursuing.
I truly believe the most countercultural thing you can do in 2026 is love one person for life, raise kids who love God and country, and build something that lasts.
This spring tour was incredible. Packed rooms. Tough conversations. Students staying afterward asking real questions about purpose, leadership, faith, relationships, and courage.
The future is not hopeless.
But it will belong to the builders.
We’ll pick the tour back up this fall. See you on campus soon. 🇺🇸