Donald Trump: the Wedge that Need Not Be

Politics is divisive by nature. We don't have to let Trump make that worse.

Last Tuesday, Donald Trump achieved a decisive victory against Kamala Harris, earning another 4 years as president. It is a comeback in every sense. Trump joins Grover Cleveland as only the second president to earn a nonconsecutive term. Trump's history since Biden won in November 2020 has included the events of January 6th, a second impeachment attempt, nonstop claims about a stolen election, another campaign for president, and miraculously surviving an assassination attempt, among many other things. 

Politicians are polarizing by nature. But Donald Trump's impressive rise to prominence is only overshadowed by one thing: the extreme reactions to him. The majority opinions seem to center around either extreme love or extreme hate for the man. There is little in-between. Those who fall into neither category are confined to an obvious minority. 

Given that the division in the United States is at an all-time high (and only continues to grow), Americans are forced to interact with those who hold wildly different opinions. And because social media is such an obsessive staple in our lives, that divide is exacerbated in ways previous generations never experienced. The reality is such that it's not if you will encounter those with whom you hold conflicting views, it's when. And since adults should theoretically behave in a responsible manner, it's our duty to exist alongside adversaries. For some, that is impossible. Still, diversity is good, especially the ideological kind. And it must be encouraged. 

Trump is not Hitler. Those who make such a comparison engage in hyperbolic nonsense and are ignorant of history. Trump has a long list of flaws. Those of us who chose not to vote for him have serious reservations about him in both personal and policy areas. We cautiously await a new Trump administration. This doesn't mean Trump critics are incapable of spending time with those who voted for him, whether they be family or friends. Unlike what the current discourse in the United States preaches, you are neither the person you vote for nor responsible for their words and actions. And yes, this applies to Harris-Walz supporters and voters as well. If anything, the temperature in this country needs to be turned down, not up. It would be a pleasant surprise if Trump, in his second term, helps diminish the animosity. The same goes for the legacy media, determined to inject vitriol and outright falsehoods into the conversation. Americans have no control over politicians, pundits, or news sites. But each of us does have the ability to control our own conduct as it relates to Americans who stand opposite us politically. It does no good to wait for the other person to act as they should. 

On X, formerly known as Twitter, the post-election hysteria has reached unprecedented levels. The panic is sure to continue growing as we get closer to Donald Trump's inauguration. Ironically, the side that spread "joy and vibes" for most of Kamala Harris's short campaign are revealing their true colors. The tolerant crowd is anything but. One X user, who goes by @DerekNeverFails, posted the following: "I have cut ties with my MAGA father and sister. I will never, ever speak to them again. I'll spit on their graves. If you still hang out with your "friends" or family that voted for fascism, you need a long look in the mirror." In response to this absurd statement, I posted the following: 

https://x.com/SouthernKeeks/status/1855346104952668186

There was quite a bit of a response, and much of it negative. It's a sad commentary on modern life if voting for one of two candidates brings this kind of real-life backlash from those who are family. Needless to say, the list of things that are more important than politics is long. And if we as a nation of individuals don't figure out how to coexist alongside those who hold deep, contrary beliefs, we will eat ourselves alive. 

There is nothing that says you have to agree with family or friends who believe differently than you. In fact, spirited debate is a good thing. It helps to sharpen your own skills of defense and articulate your views in more persuasive ways. But convincing others is not necessary, especially when real-life bonds of family or even close friendship exist. Politicians are temporary leaders propelled by their own ambitions. Their brief influence should not be a catalyst of personal relationship ruin. 

The leftists who simply cannot be in the same company as those who voted for Trump have fully embraced their side's narrative. That narrative says Trump and his supporters aren't just flirting with fascism and white supremacy, but have fully adopted these loathsome and downright evil views. To be sure, there are elements of the far right that have indeed become the worst version of themselves. But this hardly means Trump - with all his unforced errors - is the villain they've created in their minds. But to them, he is. What's more, all of his supporters are extensions of him. This is deeply unhealthy behavior. 

Loyalty to a politician or political party has become a religion in the United States. This is because far too many have made politics the thing that will bring about a good life for them and their family. And when someone gets in that way by daring to hold a different opinion, they feel personally attacked. And then existing alongside them is no longer an option. 

Too bad. You will have to. So will I. At some point, something has to give. The idea that roughly 50% of the voting population is made up of the worst of humanity is utter nonsense. The very online crowd does not represent the whole in any meaningful way. There is a majority of people on both sides who want to love and raise their families, provide for them and their futures, and live a good life. That they voted for Trump or Harris doesn't make them unworthy of family or friend relationships. Those who believe a vote disqualifies them from interaction and connection are easily the bad guys in the situation. 

Trump's second term hasn't even started yet. It's only to grow more divisive. But it doesn't have to be this way. Controlling politicians or commentators is impossible. Refusing to accept sweeping generalizations and mischaracterizations isn't. 

Kimberly Ross is a freelance opinion writer who has written political and cultural commentary since 2015. She has bylines at The Federalist, USA Today, The Bulwark, Arc Digital, and ACN Ireland, among others. She was a senior contributor at RedState from 2015-2019. She has been a contributor to Washington Examiner's Beltway Confidential Blog since 2018 and frequently appears in Washington Examiner magazine. She is co-host of The Right Thoughts Podcast. She holds a BA in History with graduate work in political science. She lives with her husband and two energetic sons in the Southern United States. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @SouthernKeeks.