Column: Thank you, Donald Trump, for giving me my dad back

Two weeks ago, for the first time in ten years, my father and I had our first civilized conversation regarding American politics. I have Donald Trump to thank for that.

Since that surreal moment a decade ago, when Trump ceremoniously descended the golden escalator in Trump Tower and announced his candidacy for president, my father was enraptured. He somehow found Trump’s audacity and cult of personality appealing. Ironically, my father believed that he was working for the benefit of the Indian-American community.

While he thankfully never reached the MAGA-merchandise-adorning-our-house stage, my father was never discreet about his support for Trump. My progressive self was constantly clashing with his fiscal conservatism. I eventually gave up on having any political conversations with him. If he brought up anything within the realm of Trump or politics, I would tactfully shift gears to prevent what my mother likes to call “World War III.”

Our recent conversation went something like this:

“Read the news lately?” my dad asked as he drove me home.

Here we go again. I knew where this conversation was headed. I was not interested in a screaming match following a grueling week of midterms, so I decided it was safest just to respond in as few words as possible.

“No,” I lied through my teeth. “Been busy.” Clenching my jaw, I silently drafted the most pacifist and politically correct response possible. Before I could complete this routine mental exercise, he interrupted.

“Trump is destroying this nation. I thought he was going to help us, but he is making everything worse.”

At that moment, I realized that I had judged my father a little too quickly. Perhaps other conservative parents are following suit, leaning further away from the right as Trump bulldozes longstanding and fundamental American institutions. Within three months of holding office in his second term, Trump has issued a federal hiring freeze and established the Department of Government Efficiency (led by tech billionaire Elon Musk) to destroy countless well-established federal jobs. He further abolished diversity, equity and inclusion, withdrew from the World Health Organization and pardoned Jan. 6 rioters, among a laundry list of executive orders. Let’s not forget that Trump is convicted of 34 felony convictions himself.

My father defies the classic stereotype of a Trump supporter. He is not a bearded, white, Christian man who parades around in a scarlet MAGA hat as he blasts country music in a Ford truck. He belonged to a sect of Indian-American men that Trump appeals to with his “America first” mentality. Despite our shared heritage with Kamala Harris, Trump held a grip over my father throughout the 2024 election.

Yet, Trump’s recent behavior crossed a line for my dad. Before, he felt as if voting red was most beneficial for our family, but that ground quickly crumbled. In his opinion, blanket tariffs issued against China, Canada and Mexico will hurt the American economy even more. If there’s anything my coupon-obsessed father hates, it’s expensive things.

It wasn’t just the current administration’s economic policies that displeased my father. Under another one of Trump’s executive orders, children born on American soil to parents who are lawfully but temporarily present will no longer be entitled to birthright citizenship. Two decades ago, my father left everything behind so his children could live a better life than he did, as American citizens. Trump’s executive order was a direct threat to his kids’ “Americanness,” which my dad took personally.

Fortunately, Trump’s shameful and radical behavior was enough to turn my economically conservative father to a slightly left-leaning moderate. For the students out there who grew up at political odds with their parents, oftentimes, we believe that our families’ political schisms are irreversible. While it may be unrepairable for some people, I hope my father proves that that isn't always the case.

Next time a political conversation presents itself at the dinner table, enter it with an open mind rather than avoid it entirely. Give your parents a chance — you never know if they'll come around.

@dthopinion | opinion@dailytarheel.com