How to Talk to a Trump Supporter

Award-winning journalist and millennial icon Lauren Duca lends her expertise to the difficult question: how on earth do we talk to the people we love - or used to love - who voted for Donald Trump?

CONNECT WITH SIMON & SCHUSTER

[alisondemzon]

“To argue with a man who has renounced the use and authority of reason, and whose philosophy consists in holding humanity in contempt, is like administering medicine to the dead, or endeavoring to convert an atheist by scripture.”

― Thomas Paine

[nyla]

Yes. It is more than a disagreement about politics; it has become a disagreement about morality—something Trump does not have, and his followers fell right into his sewer.

[locksand]

I give them treats before initiating dialog. Then just talk very slowly and calmly and keep the treat bag handy. If they become aggressive whatever you do, don't climb a tree. They can climb trees.

[pfury]

I like her enthusiasm. In my attempts to speak rationally with Trump supporters I have not had any luck though. I have tried to single out and talk on one subject at a time and they ignore any facts I bring up as fake news. It is impossible to have rational discourse with an irrational person that will end the conversation with, well you have your opinion and I have mine. No I have facts from multiple legitimate news sites and governmental studies. You have a meme from supertrumper69 and an opinion piece from Sean Hannity.

[Gracemeetsglobe]

You can present facts to trump supporters and they will still find a way deny it. I decided to save my sanity and stop arguing with them. You need the energy to deal with everything happening.

[Hairysteed]

Misleading title. Should be: "Why talk to a Trump supporter"
No advice whatsoever as to how

[JenniferSmilesNow]

I feel like with those conversations I’m expected to know all facts. With one friend I started with facts and we couldn’t even agree that in this world there are facts

[witchynerdhermit]

My younger brother has gone down this road. He is 26, and he has started buying guns. All he talks about is how much he hates the elites, and how much of a threat immigrants and trans people are. It is disturbing.

[justingoodin]

How are we able to truly get people to understand the fact trump doesn’t care about you and your needs?

[mordecai]

I actually don't understand how someone could support trump after everything he has done, it's actually made me lose hope on humanity

[nerdieone]

It makes it hard when the trump supporter is usually the one wanting to start an argument with you etc. I'm dealing with this and its upsetting and so stressful. I try to keep conversations civil but they always erupt into a rant of some kind about dems etc. I dread having to talk to or be around them.

[gregmccomas]

Never argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. I think Mark Twain said that.

[Athedrivein]

I love that I have to be nice to the people that don't want me to be alive or exist in the same country

[AttilaButurla]

I haven’t seen my parents in two years due to COVID. We’re all getting together this Christmas and our parents are insisting on talking politics, and in particular want to talk about Trump. Unfortunately they live in their own reality, which make rational discourse difficult.

[MaryBritt]

mom’s on social security and convincing her to Turn off Fox is like driving an 18 wheeler through the eye of a needle

[mdb]

I've yet to find one reasonable Trump supporter to ha e a honest conversation!

[ellie]

I have found over these last few yrs that I'm not going to change the mind of a Trump supporter. They are unwilling to believe anything unless they see it on Fox News. So I'd rather keep my relationships than fight with them.

[Ugenburg]

I've made the effort and have made zero effort in gaining any ground with those in my family, friends, social circles, etc that support Trump.

I have severed ties with all of them as I don't want to live with that disgusting toxicity in my life any more and dropped them all as dead weight.

[JP-rbjs]

Both my parents voted for Trump not once. Not twice. But ALL three times! I have no idea how to navigate my relationship with them.

[bekindrewind]

Two of my older sisters voted for Trump. I haven’t spoken to them since 2016. I don’t go to family functions. I’ve blocked their numbers.