NY Mag’s ‘Red Dawn’ Cover Story on Young Trump Supporters Sparks Intense Debate and Backlash

A recent cover story in New York Magazine, titled “Red Dawn” and featured in its January 27–February 9 issue, has ignited a significant and varied response across media and political spheres during the week of February 10, 2025. Written by Brock Colyar, the article focused on a demographic of affluent young supporters of former President Donald Trump, prompting what the magazine itself described as an “outsize response.”

Initial Reactions and Critiques

The piece quickly became a focal point for commentary. Journalist Don Lemon characterized the article as a “fascinating almost anthropological study” of this specific group of young conservatives. Lemon offered a pointed critique of the subjects, stating they “don’t believe in good-faith arguments, they don’t believe in the truth,” reflecting a perception of their engagement with political discourse.

Concurrently, commentary emerged regarding broader political strategy. Kylie Cheung, writing for Jezebel, connected the phenomenon described in the article to what she sees as a deliberate effort by the Republican Party (GOP) to “infiltrate youth media ecosystems,” suggesting a strategic push to influence younger generations through various digital and cultural channels.

Conservative Perspectives and Media Strategy

From the conservative side, the article spurred calls for a different media approach. Conservative activist Christopher Rufo argued forcefully that the right needs to strategically “invest in its own media” infrastructure to effectively rival established outlets like New York Magazine, proposing a parallel ecosystem for communication and influence.

Prominent political figures also weighed in. Vice-President J.D. Vance remarked on the article with a degree of irony, stating, “It’s like they’re trying to make us look cool,” suggesting that despite the article’s likely critical intent, it might inadvertently portray young conservatives in a manner perceived as appealing or fashionable by some.

The visual presentation of the story also drew specific criticism. Commentator Ashley Reese found the accompanying photography to be “purposefully mocking,” indicating a belief that the editorial choices in imagery were designed to ridicule the article’s subjects rather than simply document them.

Allegations of Misrepresentation and Bias

A significant part of the conservative backlash centered on allegations of intentional misrepresentation by the magazine. Email correspondent Karen Barton was among those who voiced such concerns. A key point of contention involved the cropping of the cover photo. Black pro-Trump influencer CJ Pearson explicitly accused the magazine of strategically altering the image to exclude people of color, claiming this move deliberately “undermined the narrative that MAGA is a racist cult” by visually excluding evidence to the contrary from the cover image itself.

Media Impact and Broader Commentary

The sheer volume and intensity of the reaction did not go unnoticed within the media landscape. Max Tani, reporting for Semafor, highlighted that the cover story successfully generated “multiple days of conversation,” describing this sustained engagement as an “impressive feat in 2025,” underscoring the difficulty of maintaining attention in the current media environment.

Other prominent voices joined the chorus of criticism directed at the article and the magazine’s portrayal. Broadcaster Megyn Kelly and venture capitalist Marc Andreessen were both noted as being critical of the piece, adding their platforms to the debate surrounding its fairness and accuracy.

Characterizing the Emerging Youth Right

The article and the subsequent discussion also prompted reflections on how the younger generation of conservatives is perceived. Conservative Gen-Z commentator Brett Cooper, speaking on Fox News, suggested that young people aligned with the right are increasingly viewed as “edgy” and even “rebels” against prevailing cultural norms.

A more critical cultural analysis was offered by Stephen Metcalf on Slate’s Culture Gabfest podcast. Metcalf drew a historical parallel, likening the trend observed in the article to a “miniaturized, intensified version of that Reaganistic backlash.” He described the phenomenon using strong terms, characterizing it as “unapologetic fascist decadence,” a description that highlights a perception of the movement as both politically extreme and culturally provocative.

The diverse and vigorous reactions to New York Magazine’s “Red Dawn” cover story underscore the contentious nature of depicting contemporary political identities, particularly among younger demographics, and highlight ongoing debates about media bias, representation, and the evolving landscape of youth political engagement in the lead-up to key political cycles.