Dear Elissa Slotkin: We Aren’t Going Anywhere

Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan is facing mounting pressure following remarks made last week at the University of Chicago, where she stated a desire to deter young conservatives from seeking employment in the Trump administration. During an interview with the editorial director of Vox, held at the university's Institute of Politics, Slotkin expressed hope that planned political prosecutions of Republican leaders would discourage recent graduates from joining the federal government. She described wanting young people to think, "Lord, that might be buying myself a ton of problems that I don't want, so let me avoid participating in that," adding that she wanted that specific deterrent message sent. The comments emerged during a session that Slotkin believed would feature a sympathetic audience. However, recordings of the event circulated widely, prompting formal ethics complaints against the senator and condemnation from figures ranging within the Republican party up to President Donald Trump. Slotkin has attempted to clarify her position, stating she intended to refer only to individuals who break the law. Critics argue this interpretation contradicts the context of the exchange. In the video, the host followed her remarks by suggesting that targets could be made pariahs politically, socially, and perhaps legally, to which Slotkin nodded in agreement. Opponents contend that her intent was to target young staffers broadly, not just legal violators. Democratic colleagues have largely defended Slotkin or deflected criticism toward critics. Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto of Nevada voiced support for Slotkin. Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona directed threats toward Mike Davis, the founder and president of the Article III Project, after Davis responded to the controversy. Kelly suggested that if the United States remained a country of laws, the FBI director should send agents to question Davis. These reactions have fueled accusations among conservatives that the entire Democratic leadership shares the sentiment expressed by Slotkin regarding the prosecution of Trump associates. The controversy intersects with a broader shift in how young conservatives enter political service. While Slotkin spoke of deterrence, a parallel movement is actively recruiting young Republicans for roles in the current administration. American Moment, an organization co-founded in 2021 by Nick Solheim, Jake Mercier, and Saurabh Sharma, aims to train a new class of political staffers. Solheim, the group's 29-year-old chief executive officer, stated the organization's goal is to create "10,000 Stephen Millers," referencing the hardline Trump aide whose career trajectory serves as a model for the program. American Moment recruits applicants who oppose immigration, free trade, and foreign military interventions. Unlike previous generations of conservative politicians who often attended elite institutions like Penn or Dartmouth, this cohort frequently hails from state schools or Christian colleges in cities like Columbus, Ohio. Solheim noted that the organization has never admitted an Ivy League alumnus. The group operated with a budget of approximately $2 million in 2024. By 2023, the organization had trained roughly 1,500 young conservatives, a number Solheim said has since grown to several thousands. The training provided by American Moment is highly practical. Fellows receive instruction on professional etiquette, including how to dress appropriately and maintain personal hygiene, alongside rigorous networking exercises. The program provides participants with credit cards containing $100 to facilitate social interactions, such as taking colleagues out for coffee. Participants in the most intensive, paid programs number between 15 and 30 per semester. Their duties in federal agencies and congressional offices often involve basic tasks like answering phones and relaying messages, sometimes conveying hardline statements regarding immigration enforcement or other policy issues. Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, described the new generation of young conservatives as lacking the aggressive posture of previous cohorts. He characterized American Moment as one of the most important organizations in the conservative movement today. Vice President J.D. Vance served as an adviser to the group in its early days. The organization maintains a low public profile, preferring to operate quietly. Saurabh Sharma, one of the co-founders, previously described the initiative as a "dark-arts project," comparing it to a glacier where only a small portion is visible while the bulk operates without attention. Surveys cited by commentators highlight the environment in which these young conservatives operate. A Cato Institute and YouGov survey indicated that 77 percent of Republicans hold political views they are afraid to share. Among Republicans under 30, 51 percent feared their views could harm their career prospects, compared to 28 percent of those aged 55 to 64. A separate survey by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression of 45,000 students found that 42 percent of conservative students felt unable to express their opinions freely, a figure significantly higher than the 13 percent reported by liberal students. Additionally, a Harvard Institute of Politics poll showed that only 35 percent of young Republicans felt comfortable sharing their political views with college professors, whereas 54 percent of young Democrats reported feeling comfortable. Critics of Slotkin point to historical precedents of political targeting, citing investigations into Trump supporters who purchased merchandise between 2021 and 2025, as well as data collection efforts involving Republican lawmakers. They argue that the threat of prosecution extends beyond high-level officials to include junior staff. With midterm elections approaching, observers suggest the outcome will determine whether the deterrent effect Slotkin described becomes a reality for young professionals entering the federal workforce. The debate centers on whether the proposed actions constitute legitimate accountability for illegal conduct or partisan retaliation aimed at suppressing political participation.