The GenX Takeover Dethroned the Boomer Establishment With Trump’s Help

Ignored for decades, Generation X is stepping into leadership, dismantling Boomer dominance, and embracing an unlikely ally in Donald Trump to restore order to the chaos.

Generation X is the last feral generation of American culture—ignored, underestimated, and left to fend for itself. But now, as the cultural and political landscape crumbles into chaos, we’re stepping into leadership. GenX has entered the chat—and we’re here to clean up the mess.

We were the kids who rode bikes until the streetlights came on, drank from hoses, and conquered wrought-iron jungle gyms bolted into blistering asphalt playgrounds.

We grew up unsupervised, untethered, and unbothered, learning resilience the hard way. We didn’t just scrape our knees; we walked it off and got back to it.

Primarily raised by baby boomers, the same generation that fought against the establishment in the 1960s and 1970s only to morph into yuppies in the 1980s, GenX was left to figure things out on our own. We were latchkey kids, independent by necessity. This isn’t a complaint; it’s just a fact, and if I am honest, thanks.

The boomer generation, born from the post-WWII baby boom, lived up to its name by reshaping American culture and politics through sheer numbers.

Their influence was unmatched for decades, from dominating the workforce to leading cultural revolutions in the 1960s and 1970s. Their sheer size ensured that they had a dominant influence on American culture and politics for decades.

Then, along came the Millennials, and their loudest, most progressive voices grabbed the baton of leftist activism handed down by their boomer progressives that permeated academia. They proceeded to infuse their agenda into every corner of American life—business, academia, the judiciary, and even K-12 education. It was everywhere.

And sandwiched between these two loud, overbearing generations? GenX—the forgotten middle child. We simply want to mind our own business and live our lives without drama. A strength for self-reliance but a weakness if you want to institute change.

But here’s the thing about GenX: while we may not have asked for the spotlight and tried to mind our own business, we were paying attention. We’ve seen the excesses of the Millennials’ woke crusade policing pronouns and frivolously labeling any opposition rooted in "isms" and phobias - racism, sexism, transphobia, islamophobia - and the hypocrisy of the boomer establishment.

Many boomers who were once anti-establishment and anti-war in their youth have become hawkish and embraced the establishment in their later years. Those who protested the war when they were young are now often among the biggest war supporters.

Boomers have maintained disproportionate political influence for decades, often making decisions that negatively impact younger generations' futures while claiming to know what's best for the country. And now, as the cultural, political, and economic landscape crumbles into chaos, GenX is stepping up.

And to the elder Millennials, the “cuspers” who teeter between GenX cynicism and Millennial idealism: We see you. You’re cool. You know how to use a rotary phone and send a meme. Welcome to the team—we are in this together.

It’s no surprise that GenX overwhelmingly voted for Trump over Harris. Trump embodies many of the traits that define GenX—directness, resourcefulness, and an unrelenting focus on results. Like us, he values efficiency over bureaucracy, substance over style, and getting things done without unnecessary fanfare. And now, with the Trump administration entering 2025, GenX is taking the reins as the predominant generation in leadership.

Of course, it’s not shocking that it took a brash, unapologetic real estate tycoon and reality TV host to make this shift possible. As a baby boomer, Trump benefited from the dominance of his generation, but as a businessman, he understands that every empire needs fresh blood to grow and thrive.

It’s no different in politics.

The boomers who spent their lives in politics—Biden, Pelosi, McConnell—either didn’t learn this lesson or were too reluctant to pass the baton to “the kids.” But Trump saw the writing on the wall. For his second term, he’s attempting to bring in a new guard, mentoring and empowering the next generation to step up and take charge.

In a way, it’s poetic. It took a baby boomer to push his own generation out of their entrenched positions of power and make way for the new. And here’s the twist: in doing so, Donald J. Trump has positioned himself as an unlikely GenX ally.

Why Trump Became GenX’s Unlikely Champion

When you settle into your 40s, certain events and cultural shifts stand out, shaping who you are. For GenX, technology marked our evolution: we grew up with landlines and typewriters but adapted to cell phones, computers, and the internet. We transitioned from "Party in the Woods" gatherings to the hyper-connected world of social media, witnessing profound changes in how we communicated and built relationships.

We also lived through seismic historical moments. As children, we watched the Challenger disaster unfold in classrooms, teaching us how quickly life could shift. Later, we saw planes crash into the Twin Towers and were thrust into war just as we were trying to find our footing in adulthood. These moments instilled resilience and taught us how to navigate uncertainty.

But it wasn’t just global crises that shaped us—it was the cultural reckonings at home. The Rodney King beating and subsequent riots revealed the simmering racial tensions beneath America’s surface. The O.J. Simpson trial shattered the glossy veneer of celebrity and forced us to confront deep divides over justice and race. These events taught us to question what we were told and to look beneath the surface, fueling the skepticism and independence that define our generation.

In pop culture, Robin Williams’ humor mirrored our irreverence, while Kurt Cobain’s raw vulnerability spoke to the disillusionment many of us felt. These figures—and the tragedies surrounding them—symbolized the complexity of a generation that grew up learning to laugh through pain and adapt to chaos.

What we never expected was that the baby boomer NY real estate mogul, always lingering at the edges of our lives—whether through flashy real estate ventures, tabloid divorces, or his reinvention as a reality TV star—would become president.

Trump has been a part of GenX's life for as long as I can remember. Whether our parents gossiped about him, we watched him on Oprah, we saw him in a Pizza Hut commercial with his ex-wife Ivana, or we spotted his cameo in Home Alone 2, he was always there—an icon of wealth, brashness, and disarming charm.

But just like us, Trump never expected to become president.

In 2016, he carried a naïveté that many of us still shared, believing the political system could be navigated with common sense. Believing that although flawed, the U.S. government has America’s best interest at heart first.

Because of this, Trump made rookie mistakes—trusting establishment insiders, underestimating the hostility of entrenched powers, and relying too heavily on conventional political wisdom instead of trusting his instincts.

But Trump 2.0 is a different story. He’s learned from those missteps, refining his approach and opting for bold moves that align with his unconventional style. This time, he’s surrounding himself with GenXers—leaders who grew up scrappy, skeptical, and solutions-focused. They don’t just understand the stakes; they embrace them with a no-nonsense, results-driven approach that matches Trump’s ethos.

For a generation that’s been quietly waiting in the wings, it’s finally time to step into leadership.

GenX doesn’t seek the spotlight. Our nature is: Don’t bother me. I want to live my life and let others live theirs. Dude, we only ask for substance over style and tangible outcomes rather than performative gestures.

This is our foundation, and we want the same for others—primarily so we can continue our lives and be left alone. Say no to micromanagement; say yes to liberty, individualism, and an environment where people can thrive on their terms.

I hope to see this leadership style in this new GenX administration, rooted in independence, efficiency, and a no-nonsense approach to problem-solving. Somewhere along the way, the Democrats—specifically the loud, illiberal progressives—got overconfident. They pushed too far, too fast. They acted out.

And now?

We’re done with the nonsense. You woke the beast. FAFO.

Let’s meet the GenX cabinet.

GenX: Leadership for a New Era

For decades, Baby Boomer’s dominance in the presidency, the Cabinet, and the halls of Congress reflected their generational power but often left younger generations feeling unheard. Their grip on power has profoundly influenced the nation’s direction. However, as we enter 2025, the political landscape is undergoing a quiet revolution.

Generation X, once the forgotten "middle child" between Boomers and Millennials, is finally stepping into the spotlight, both in the executive branch and on Capitol Hill.

The 119th U.S. Congress exemplifies this generational shift. For the first time, Generation X has surpassed Baby Boomers as the largest generational group in the House of Representatives, with 180 members (41%) compared to 170 Boomers (39%). Meanwhile, Millennials have grown to 66 members (15%), and even Generation Z has secured its first representative.

While the Senate remains dominated by Baby Boomers, holding 60% of the seats, Generation X has made notable gains, now comprising 28% of the chamber. This gradual but undeniable change reflects a broader trend: the median age in both the House and Senate has decreased for the first time in years, signaling a generational passing of the torch.

GenX Dominates Trump’s Cabinet

This transition is not limited to Congress. President Donald J. Trump’s second-term Cabinet in the White House marks a significant generational pivot.

Historically, Baby Boomers dominated key executive roles. Trump’s first administration (2017–2021) was no exception, with most Cabinet members born in the 1940s and 1950s firmly within the Boomer demographic.

President Joe Biden’s Cabinet (2021–2025) continued this trend, with Boomers occupying nearly every influential position. Their average age at the time of appointment exceeded 64.

But Trump’s incoming Cabinet in 2025 tells a different story. This new team is defined by its youth and its composition: Generation X now represents the predominant demographic among Cabinet appointees.

By contrast, Biden’s Cabinet averaged over 64 years of age at the time of appointment and was dominated by Baby Boomers. Trump’s team signals a deliberate break from that pattern, with younger, scrappier leaders now stepping into the forefront.

From Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, this is the scrappiest youngest cohort to lead America in decades. Their average age, hovering in the early 50s, signals a shift in generational leadership and a break from the entrenched establishment politics that defined the Boomer era.

• Marco Rubio vs. Clinton and Powell: As Secretary of State, Marco Rubio offers a sharp departure from Colin Powell and Hillary Clinton, who were war-hungry and prioritized maintaining international favor over strengthening America’s interests abroad. Powell led us into Iraq and Afghanistan, while Clinton extended the Afghanistan conflict and oversaw the Benghazi debacle. Both focused on forcing Western values on those who had no interest in them. Rubio, by contrast, promises to center U.S. strength and interests above global approval, bringing a pragmatic approach to GenXers’ value.

• Pete Hegseth vs. Past Defense Leaders: Trump’s first Secretaries of Defense often clashed with him, and Biden’s appointees prioritized diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives over military readiness. This approach left the military weaker and struggling with recruitment. Pete Hegseth, however, promises to focus on restoring lethality to the armed forces. His expected leadership and Trump’s win are already yielding results, with recruitment rates finally beginning to rise.

• Pam Bondi vs. Bill Barr and Merrick Garland: Trump’s first term saw Bill Barr—a traditionalist who defended Trump when necessary but ultimately followed the establishment’s cautious path. Under Biden, Merrick Garland weaponized the Department of Justice (DOJ) against Trump and his allies. Now, Trump has tapped Pam Bondi, a no-nonsense former Florida attorney general who has vowed to end the DOJ’s weaponization and restore public trust.

• The Intelligence Community Reset: For years, intelligence agencies like the CIA, FBI, and DNI turned their powers inward, targeting American citizens through censorship and politicized investigations. Now, GenX leaders like John Ratcliffe—alongside potential appointees Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel—promise a return to accountability and integrity in intelligence. If confirmed, they will lead the charge in untangling years of bureaucratic overreach.

This transformation is not just about age—it’s about attitude.

Where Baby Boomers rose to prominence in an era of protest and idealism, and Millennials leaned into social activism and systemic overhaul, Generation X brings a different energy to the table.

Because we spent much of our childhood unsupervised, we are the generation that learned independence the hard way, the skeptics who question authority, and the generation who prioritizes results over rhetoric.

For example, this Cabinet’s leaders aren’t interested in performative gestures or endless committees—they’re focused on getting things done, a hallmark of GenX practicality. They are cynical realists, fiercely independent, and unafraid to tackle their inherited mess. Growing up in the shadows of two larger and louder generations, they are accustomed to figuring things out without fanfare.

The rise of Generation X in Congress and now in the White House reflects a broader demand for change. The nation's cultural, economic, and political landscapes are chaotic, and the no-nonsense GenX might be just what is needed to navigate this turbulence.

This Cabinet’s leaders embody that approach, choosing action over theatrics and solutions over endless debate. They’ve inherited a mess, but if there’s one thing GenX knows how to do, it’s clean up chaos without making a fuss.

Whether they succeed in doing so remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the Boomers’ era of dominance is finally giving way to a new generation of leadership.

A Moment of Irony: The Trump-GenX Connection

It’s hard to ignore the poetic irony in all of this. GenX—a generation defined by its skepticism of authority, disdain for the spotlight, and fierce independence—is rallying behind one of the most polarizing figures in modern history: Donald J. Trump.

Love him or hate him, Trump’s brashness and refusal to conform resonate with the GenX ethos. He doesn’t ask for permission; he does what needs to be done. Results, not approval, matter most.

While other generations might scratch their heads at this connection, it’s not hard to understand for a generation left to its own devices.

We were raised on tough love and harsh realities, and we’ve always had a soft spot for straight talkers who don’t sugarcoat things. Trump embodies that unvarnished, take-it-or-leave-it attitude.

For GenX, the appeal isn’t about personality but outcomes. Trump represents a kind of leadership that aligns with the generation’s core values: action over talk, independence over conformity and results over appearances. He may be a boomer, but he’s GenX in spirit.

GenX Has Entered the Chat—And It’s About Time

For decades, because of our size and our desperate desire to be left alone, we were the forgotten generation—overshadowed by Boomers and drowned out by Millennials.

We didn’t ask for this spotlight, but now that it’s here, we’re not backing down. GenX has entered the chat, and we’re bringing practicality, resilience, and a results-driven mindset to the table.

For the first time in decades, there’s a new sheriff in town—and they’re rocking flannel and a Walkman.

This is a generation that doesn’t care about hashtags or virtue signaling; we care about fixing what’s broken. It’s a shift that’s been a long time coming, and it’s one worth watching closely.

My hope is that this incoming GenX cabinet will reflect the nature of the generation—a focus on liberty, individualism, and tangible outcomes. With these values at the core, we can create a legacy of leadership and a foundation for future generations to thrive.

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What do you think about this generational shift in leadership? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Also, remember that confirmation hearings for Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel are this Thursday, with RFK Jr. scheduled for Wednesday. We’ll discuss these hearings and their implications for the future on Friday’s episode of

Rivera and Reeves

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