The US election has divided my family – the youngest are so pro-Trump

Family Ties And Polarized Politics In Boston

November 4, 2024, at 9:00 AM

I've been spending time with my relatives in Boston, Massachusetts.

It's like being enveloped in the colors of the USA and Italy: receiving care, indulgence, and more care. However, during the week of the US presidential election, I've been advised not to bring up politics at all—especially when it comes to Donald Trump—because it sparks plenty of heated debates.

Massachusetts is led by a Democratic governor and has two Democratic senators. In fact, only one Republican, Ronald Reagan, has managed to win the state in a general election in recent years. This is often referred to as Kennedy territory, and a trip to the JFK Presidential Library served as a touching reminder of how much political discussions have declined over time.

The initial television debates featuring a visibly nervous Richard Nixon at the library stood out because both candidates treated each other with respect and maintained a filter on their language. In contrast, today's political landscape is loud and divided – reflecting the changing dynamics even within my once-solidly Democratic working-class family.

However, it's not the older generation we're talking about: my uncle, who is in his eighties, is a first-generation immigrant from Italy, while my aunt is of Portuguese descent and part of the second generation. They have already cast their votes for Kamala Harris without hesitation and are growing frustrated with some of our relatives. They are definitely going to vote, but they refuse to contribute any money, despite the constant flood of requests for donations from various parties via text. A running family joke has become, “It’s your best buddy, Kamala again,” aimed at my uncle, who jokingly begs, “Make it stop!” Their experiences have been greatly enhanced by the benefits of Obamacare, which is why it's a no-brainer for them to support Harris.

However, that's not the case with my cousin in his sixties and his wife. They were reluctant to disclose their voting decisions, but their irritation with Joe Biden—whom they hold responsible for rising energy and grocery prices, and view as "out of touch"—has deepened into a dislike for Harris. They would never support "that clown" Trump, so they opted for a candidate we rarely hear about: Jill Stein from the Green Party, who is running for president for the third time. Back in 2016, some Democrats accused Stein of undermining Hillary Clinton's chances in close contests.

One of my nephews would always keep his voting choice to himself, which suggests he didn’t vote for Trump, since his supporters tend to be quite vocal about their preferences. The upscale suburban area where we enjoyed some tasty shrimp and lobster was filled with Trump/Vance signs.

My other nephew is quite vocal in his views. He’s an avid outdoorsman who carries multiple guns and knives, and he enthusiastically shared nearly every popular conspiracy theory out there. This ranged from ideas about microchips in Covid vaccines to accusations against overly funded immigrants, whom he seems to think are engaging in bizarre activities like eating pets.

I wanted to find out why he seemed so paranoid, but other family members had cautioned us beforehand not to bring it up. Many family gatherings often turn into heated arguments.

We allowed this grandson of immigrants to express Trump's list of grievances regarding immigration, while my uncle excused himself from the table, claiming he was feeling tired.

I attribute a lot of the problem to social media. My uncle and aunt are glued to CNN nearly around the clock, while my cousins barely pay attention to the news, focusing solely on sports. My nephews, who are in their thirties, don’t watch television or read newspapers; instead, they are inundated with endless memes and the blatant misrepresentation of facts from the Trump campaign. He claims he never said certain things, despite the fact that we all heard his remarks regarding Liz Cheney, immigrants, and encouraging his supporters to challenge the results if he loses. His followers now openly declare that they won’t accept a victory for Harris, stating that "Democrats are cheating" in interviews.

In our upbringing, we often heard that Democrats and Republicans shared more common ground than our Conservative and Labour parties do. However, Trump has changed that dynamic, possibly for good. It's impossible to predict the outcome of this election, but many are bracing for difficulties regardless of who comes out on top.