I’m writing this to connect with anyone who might find themselves in a situation similar to mine. It’s a daunting place to be, one I never thought I would face, yet here I am. Yes, I have a loved one who supports Trump, and it’s not in a joking or hypothetical way. My loved one is genuinely planning to vote for him on November 8, marking that box next to his name, believing he should lead our country.
It’s heartbreaking. I want to maintain my relationship with this person, but discussing it could lead to an eruption of feelings akin to Vesuvius. I could unleash a torrent of words filled with disdain for his racist, misogynistic, xenophobic, and egotistical comments. I need to preserve our family ties, so I’ve resolved never to mention Trump in their presence. Thankfully, they’re aware of my views and steer clear of political talk. After all, we’ve shared moments watching Fox News, and they know where I stand.
Here are the seven stages of grief you might experience if you discover that someone you care about is supporting Trump:
- Shock/Disbelief
“No!” I exclaimed to my loved one’s partner, Mark. “I can’t believe it.” “I know,” he replied softly. “It’s like he’s been brainwashed.” It has to be that, I think—some form of brainwashing. After all, we share the same blood. How could we have such different beliefs? - Denial
When I visited my loved one’s home, I tried to ignore the sound of Fox News blaring in the background. I acted as if we were a happy family, pretending that one of us hadn’t lost their mind. I bit my tongue so hard it nearly drew blood, and by the time I got home, I had entered the next stage. - Anger
Seriously? How could anyone vote for someone who thrives on spreading anger, hatred, and fear? No one is safe from his rhetoric—women, families of fallen soldiers, minorities, the disabled, and even babies. How could my loved one buy into that idea of building a wall? Really?! America is better than this. We are all immigrants, every single one of us, so think about that. - Bargaining
One day, I found myself praying, “Please, help my loved one realize Trump is completely unhinged.” Then came the Republican convention, and as Trump spoke, spewing hate, I thought my prayers had been answered. “Did you watch the news?” I asked Mark one evening. “Yes,” he said. “And?” I pressed. “He still supports him.” “How is that even possible?” I exclaimed. “He said he likes people who weren’t captured!” Mark just sighed. - Guilt
I pondered whether I had pushed him too hard towards the opposing side with my “Hillary for 2016” chatter back in 2008. Could I have somehow unplugged the Fox News channel without him noticing? Could I have changed anything? Probably not. - Depression
Oh God. I decided to drown my sorrows in old David Letterman interviews with Trump (hilarious) and remind myself that most Americans are kind-hearted and intelligent enough to avoid voting for someone who lies constantly. They even timed him! - Acceptance (and Hope)
Eventually, I came to terms with the fact that everyone is entitled to their opinion—even if that opinion is potentially dangerous. I’ll just have to accept that my loved one is wrong yet still a good person.
So there you have it. These are the stages of grief you may encounter if you discover that someone you love has crossed over to the dark side of the political spectrum. We’ll have to stick together until November 9, when hopefully the world will make sense again, and Trump will return to his golden castle, leaving politics behind.
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Summary
This article explores the emotional journey of dealing with a loved one’s support for Trump, detailing the stages of shock, denial, anger, bargaining, guilt, depression, and ultimately acceptance. It highlights the struggle to maintain relationships amid political differences while offering links to further resources on personal and family matters.