How you approach conversations with your Trump-supporting friends and family makes all the difference, so let’s take a quick look. What follows is less about specific dos and don’ts and more about reexamining how we think about these conversations. This perspective will help you see how they can work.

The goal isn’t to get someone to say, “OMG, you’re right. How did I not see that?” This is not about winning a dispute; it’s about helping the other person find truth on their own. If you can lock in this perspective, you’ll greatly increase the likelihood of having meaningful, productive conversations.

Because of this, it’s important to bring patience to these conversations. This might be a long process, and it will help you stay cool if you can manage your expectations. 

Show empathy. Showing empathy to Trump supporters doesn’t excuse harmful beliefs or require you to give up your values. It will help you remember that the real fight isn’t with them, it’s with the forces that shaped what they believe.

Challenging their beliefs can put them in a defensive posture, and the conversation will fail before it starts. It’s best to leave fact-checking and talking points at home.

Try to create an environment focused on working together through these conversations. 

Everyone needs to belong to something, so it’s hard to walk away from Trump and MAGA if you have no place else to go. It’s very important to let them know, through your actions or words, that they’re welcome back, no questions asked. We don’t need them to admit they were wrong - we just need them back. 

Gently, over time, help them see that the real threat comes from billionaires, corporatists, and oligarchs, not their neighbors or the vulnerable.

When trust is established, begin nudging them away from manipulative and destructive sources of information (Fox News, Joe Rogan, social media, etc.). Disinformation and propaganda are the main reasons we are in this mess.

 Keep in mind that this is also about the future - well beyond Trump - it’s about reclaiming our civil, truth-based society. 

Showing empathy, vulnerability, and authenticity will catch them off guard and encourage them to respond in kind. 

Think of this as a project; it might sound cold, but it will reduce your frustration. 

Plan on engaging regularly; repetition and reinforcement are key. The propagandists won’t stop, so neither should we.