Below are a few insights into why conversations with Trump supporters can be effective when done right. These ideas fall into two categories: practical realities and human psychology.

The practical reality

This is not about talking with strangers. These conversations work best with people you already know—friends, family, and others with whom trust exists or once did. Without trust, the conversation rarely gets off the ground.

We’re not necessarily trying to convince Trump supporters to vote Democratic - though that often happens. It’s sufficient to reconnect them with truth, and help them see the dangers of their allegiances and who their real enemies are. Having them step away from the Republican Party for a while or register as Independents would be a huge win.

We’ve already seen people leave Trump on their own. That alone tells us change is possible.  If some of his followers can see the light, then others can be led to it. 

Timing also matters. Before, many conversations relied on warnings and predictions. Now, there is lived reality—headlines, outcomes, and consequences that are harder to dismiss. It will be easier to show them what is happening now, rather than before the election, when you could only try to convince them of what could happen.

Not all Trump supporters are the same. There are degrees of belief, identity, and attachment. Some are deeply entrenched. Others are far more flexible and reachable than they appear.

Our early conversations with Trump supporters often ended in frustration. The reality is that those conversations didn’t stand a chance. We didn’t realize we had to change how we talk to them. Now we know our words matter. When we adjust our approach, the outcome can change.

Human psychology

There are many reasons people voted for Trump:

• Many long-time Republicans would never vote for a Democrat.

• Some—especially younger men—were drawn to his bravado and shaped by the influencers they follow.

• Trump’s name recognition and the belief in his success as a businessman (The Apprentice ran for 15 years)

But there’s a more significant reason: years, even decades, of propaganda. It’s important to understand how many people have been shaped by it, because that understanding helps us be more patient as we work to unravel it.

Our minds can and often do change, even our beliefs and values. This is known as neuroplasticity.

Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to adapt to new experiences and environments. In the context of propaganda, repeated narratives can rewire the brain, creating and strengthening new connections (synapses) while older ones weaken. This process can introduce new beliefs, redefine common sense, and shape how we see the world.

Because of their right-wing disinformation bubble, many of Trump’s supporters live in a fundamentally different reality. Beyond being loose with the truth, this environment also exploits the human need for identity and group belonging while stoking fear and anxiety. These are powerful emotions that often override facts and logic and will derail most conversations.

The good news is that neuroplasticity never goes away. Our minds never stop adapting. The same processes that pulled people in the wrong direction can also help bring them back.

That’s the key takeaway: psychologists know what was done to our friends and family, and they know it can be undone. Conversation experts can show us how. Over time, and through the right kinds of interactions, we can reclaim those who, for the moment, believe in Trump and MAGA.