Versión Español
The celebration of Thanksgiving will be controversial this year in American households. The reason is that Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential elections irritated progressive voters of the former Democratic candidate Kamala Harris to such an extent that they came up with the idea of avoiding family members who did not vote like them.
Thus, continuing with the five stages of grief that Democrats are going through, the long-awaited Thanksgiving Day has arrived. It is estimated that around 80 million people will travel in the United States to celebrate it. The figure, published by the motor club AAA (American Automobile Association), also indicates that 71.7 million of those trips will be made by vehicle. This is 1.3 million more road travelers compared to last year.
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This ‘record’ mobilization, as described by the White House, also brings discomfort for families whose members think differently. Democratic supporters refuse to talk about politics at the table. According to a CBS News/YouGov poll, 72% of Harris voters prefer to avoid the topic compared to 62% of Trump voters. Although the study does not indicate it, the reason is obvious: they remain in denial and anger after the victory of the former Republican president. The stage of grief corresponding to acceptance is still far from arriving. Meanwhile, businessman Elon Musk takes the opportunity to reference the topic with a video parodying what could be the dinner in many American households this Thursday.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 27, 2024
One in ten people changed their Thanksgiving plans
In New York alone, a record 3.2 million travelers are expected to pass through the gates of JFK, La Guardia, Newark, and Stewart airports, according to figures from the Port Authority. Spread out from November 25 to December 2, this totals 400,000 people daily traveling to or from the city that never sleeps.
Although it is impossible to know exactly how many families will have tensions over political topics on Thanksgiving, the irrationality of some Democrats suggests there will be quite a few. Feminists shaving their heads to protest Trump’s re-election was another sign of the dissociation that took hold of voters who call themselves progressives after the result of November 5. Therefore, it would not be an exaggeration to expect that resentment will spill over into the celebration in many households despite the high percentage that prefers to avoid the topic.
Another finding from the CBS News/YouGov poll was that 43% of the 2,232 American adults surveyed will talk politics with people who voted like them, while 57% ‘will continue to avoid the topic.’ Only 31% say they are willing to talk politics with people who have different opinions, while 69% will avoid it.
Even so, Americans will not stop celebrating the iconic date, which is even more popular than Christmas Eve. This is evident because only one in ten respondents said they changed their plans to avoid meeting with people who voted for a different presidential candidate.
