How To Talk to Your Republican Relatives This Thanksgiving
Have a MAGA family member ready to argue at the dinner table?
Happy Thanksgiving, Democrats!
The holidays are supposed to be a time to come together and celebrate with your loved ones, but we all know how that goes with a MAGA relative. They come to the dinner table ready to parrot far-right talking points to all who will listen, especially if you’re anti-Trump. Having these conversations can feel intimidating, but after a year of massive Democratic wins (and Trump losses), you should be ready to share the truth and help teach others. Here is the ultimate guide to sharing nothing but facts this Thanksgiving.
If They Say: “The Economy is Better Under Trump”
We know that MAGA Republicans love to say they support Trump for his economy. If they follow him on social media, they may even claim that the cost of Thanksgiving dinner is down 25% this year, as was announced by Trump.
Well, the president was fact-checked. It turns out that this statement was debunked after Trump drew inadequate comparisons between the two years. In reality, food prices have skyrocketed this year, leaving many families to make difficult decisions about what Thanksgiving dinner looks like. The holiday season will continue to look different as companies indicate their Black Friday sales will be impacted by the Trump tariffs, leaving them unable to offer their usual discounts.
Polling shows that more than six in ten voters think that Trump has worsened the economy. Consumer sentiment is at its second-lowest on record. Yet, MAGA Republicans still champion the economy.
Meanwhile, Democrats have been fighting around the clock to lower costs and make the holidays more affordable for Americans. Voters are fed up with Trump’s crumbling economy and failure to address high costs, which is why candidates like Mikie Sherrill, Abigail Spanberger, Zohran Mamdani, and others were elected earlier this month — candidates who ran campaigns sharply focused on making life more affordable.
Want to fact-check in real time? Follow our rapid response account, Fact Post, on X, Threads, Facebook, BlueSky, and Instagram!
If They Say: “The Government Shutdown Was the Democrats’ Fault”
Bound to be a hot topic this Thanksgiving, your MAGA loved ones are eager to tell you how the recent government shutdown was owned by Democrats.
Let’s make this clear: The GOP chose to keep the government closed rather than address the out-of-control health care crisis their party created. By going all the way to the Supreme Court to try to halt SNAP benefits, Republicans forced over 42 million Americans to wonder where their next meal would come from. It’s the Republicans who owned this shutdown, while Democrats were working around the clock to make lives easier for Americans.
While House Republicans took a vacation from work, Democratic officials showed up day after day, ready to address the biggest issues facing their constituents. Throughout the shutdown, Democrats were fighting for the American people to make health care more affordable and accessible and fight the rising cost of living imposed by the Trump administration. As Donald Trump said himself, a shutdown would be a “tremendously negative mark on the president.”
If They Say: “Trump Isn’t in the Epstein Files”
The House’s discharge petition to force a vote to release the files officially received its 218th signature from Adelita Grijalva, after Mike Johnson refused to swear her in for seven weeks. Trump was desperately grasping at straws to block the release, even as many Republicans supported releasing the files. The House and Senate have both overwhelmingly voted to release the Epstein Files, forcing Trump to sign the bill to officially release the files.
As more and more files are made public, Trump is scrambling to protect himself. In the days before the House voted to release the files, he spent time calling Republicans who supported releasing the files, trying to convince them to change their minds. Already, the emails we’ve seen show Trump for who he really is: dangerous.
Trump is protecting predators, plain and simple. Trump again called the scandal a “hoax” — but the American people aren’t buying it. More than 75 percent of Americans supported releasing the files, including two-thirds of Republicans. He knew about these crimes, and Americans are determined to reveal the truth.
If They Say: “The Democrats Are Losing Momentum”
After a presidential election loss, MAGA Republicans like to claim that Democrats have lost momentum. It can understandably be frustrating to rebuild after a loss, but Democrats are working harder than ever as we look to 2026.
Democrats had a historic year in 2025, as the “Blue Sweep” of victories proved that the momentum is on our side. Momentous wins this year proved that voters are fed up with the Trump administration and are ready to see real change in their communities. From winning the governor’s seats in Virginia and New Jersey to breaking the GOP supermajority in the deep-red Mississippi state Senate, Democrats are attacking everywhere.
The stakes are high going into the midterms. The DNC is laser-focused on keeping our foot on the gas and powering this momentum into next year. Democrats won big this year, and we’re doing everything in our power to regain power at every level. The DNC is investing record amounts in our 57 state and territorial parties and organizing each and every day to support leaders who will stand up for the American people.
We’re working harder than ever before, and we’re ready to win in 2026.
Election season isn’t over! Take action today.
The Holiday Season Is Here!
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Best,
Olivia
You are assuming these true believers will yield to facts. They never have and won't still. If you are going to engage, you need to start where they are, for example: "How has the economy affected you and your friends? What do you think could be improved?" If Epstein comes up, ask how they think we could do a better job combatting child sex trafficking. And so on. Try to find common ground and don't put them on the defensive. Or just offer more turkey and don't engage at all.
The redhat relatives won’t go there on the economy. They’re deluded but not stupid, and they’ve been shopping! It is better not to engage with them on any other issues, unless you’re planning to replace some floor coverings and re-paint. Just twirl your wine glass and act a little tipsy. Discussing an issue never changed a maga-mind.