Is it ok to date a Trump supporter if you don’t support Trump yourself? Or are interpolitical relationships doomed to fail? Politics can be dividing in a relationship, and sometimes it can be a deal breaker. So how do you deal with different political views and is it morally ok?
Subjects such as politics, religion and money are all subjects we try to avoid on a first date. Why is this? Because they can be very sensitive subjects that divide people straight away. Different beliefs can start arguments very easily and ruin a date before it has a chance to even start.
But should we be talking about it? If political views are important enough that we would argue with someone and ruin a date straight away, shouldn’t we find out now rather than later that we’re not compatible?
The simple answer is no. When it comes to dating, having things in common is important. But that doesn’t mean you need to agree with your partner on everything 100%. Having different views can help you be more open-minded and even learn from each other.
Fundamental values
The problems with politics, and religion for that matter, is that a lot of people base it on their fundamental values. Political views are shaped based on how we believe the world should be run and behave.
It causes problems then if you and your partner have very different fundamental values. That’s why it’s important to understand where their views stem from and why they’ve reached the perspective they have.
A lot of the time, you can actually have the same values but believe in different methods of achieving goals. That’s why it’s so important to be open-minded, asking your partner to explain and come to understand each other better.
Weight of conviction
Another aspect is how important political views mean to both you and your partner. Some people take an active interest in politics, and for them, it’s a big deal. Others take a passive interest and are more relaxed in general towards politics.
Some couples who have opposing political beliefs are happy to be together and simply not discuss politics around each other. They know they’ll argue, that they won’t change their minds, so they decide not to bring it up.
However, there are people who are unwilling to let it go. For them, the subject is too important, therefore making it a deal breaker. Both of these conclusions are valid, and it comes down to how important you personally believe political belief is to your attraction to another person.
One thing to consider is that you should never go into a relationship thinking you can change the other person. Of course with lots of discussions and learning, people have changed their political beliefs. But you can not go into a relationship relying on that. It would be incredibly unfair.
Understanding your own limits
Finally, it comes down to you and your partner’s limits. Are your different political views constantly bringing up friction? Does it constantly disrupt your relationship? Do you believe it’s a deal breaker?
It is very much possible to date a Trump supporter if you don’t support Trump. Or date someone that voted Brexit if you voted Remain. Opposites attract after all, and interpolitical relationships can be stimulating.
But that doesn’t mean they will always work. Instead, you have to look at your compatability on a case to case basis. Only you can decide if your different views can work out, of if they will cause more tension and problems down the road.