General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I am really stumped why college educated/intelligent persons support Trump. [View all]The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,822 posts)that this man was probably susceptible to Fox and other RW propaganda in large part because of his difficult childhood plus his fear of losing the success he'd been able to create on his own throughout his life. If he is also lonely and somewhat isolated since his wife died (and apparently she influenced his thinking, too), he might be more dependent than ever on the pleasure of the adrenaline rush Fox's shit-stirring creates in people. Anger, especially the anger derived from being made to feel like the victim of bad people who are taking something from you, is addictive. Fox's talking heads (and Trump himself) know this, which is why they have so successfully brainwashed so many people.
Maybe, as others have suggested, you could ask him, without arguing, to explain why he thinks Trump is a good president. What has he done for the country? What positive results have his policies caused for your friend, personally, that he never had before? Why does he think Trump is a good role model for children? How have his tariffs benefited the economy? With low unemployment, are there enough American workers to fill all the agricultural and service industry jobs that will open up if immigration is cut off? Does he think building the wall will stop illegal immigration and drug smuggling? If so, why?
Keep asking why, without arguing at all or offering facts. Let him formulate and think about his own answers. Let him feel like he can persuade you to come around to his way of thinking. Nobody else is going to be able to pierce the Fox/Trump bubble he's in, but if he's an intelligent person maybe he can eventually pierce it himself.