As the holidays approach, USA TODAY Opinion director Louie Villalobos says he avoids friends and relatives who support President Trump’s immigration policies, shaped by his upbringing on the U.S.-Mexico border. The Opinion Forum is asking readers whether they skip or limit holiday contact with loved ones because of politics and why. Readers are invited to submit responses via an online form or by emailing forum@usatoday.com with the subject line Forum Thanksgiving Politics; selected replies may be published. Find more viewpoints on the Opinion front page and follow @usatodayopinion.
Are You Avoiding Family Over Politics This Holiday? Share Your Story with USA TODAY Opinion
As the holidays approach, USA TODAY Opinion director Louie Villalobos says he avoids friends and relatives who support President Trump’s immigration policies, shaped by his upbringing on the U.S.-Mexico border. The Opinion Forum is asking readers whether they skip or limit holiday contact with loved ones because of politics and why. Readers are invited to submit responses via an online form or by emailing forum@usatoday.com with the subject line Forum Thanksgiving Politics; selected replies may be published. Find more viewpoints on the Opinion front page and follow @usatodayopinion.
12:32 AM, 11/14/2025Society
Are you avoiding family and friends over politics this holiday season? Tell us.
Buckle up: the holidays are approaching, and many of us are deciding how much political conversation we will tolerate at the table. For some, politics is a light background hum; for others, it can derail a whole gathering.
Louie Villalobos, director of opinion for USA TODAY Co., says he personally avoids friends and relatives who support President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. That stance is shaped by his upbringing on the U.S.-Mexico border and his family’s immigrant experience.
Another view: It’s the holidays — don’t ditch family over politics, as some have suggested.
We want to hear from you. Do you skip, limit, or carefully manage contact with friends or family during the holidays because of political differences? Why or why not? Fill out the form below or email us at forum@usatoday.com with the subject line Forum Thanksgiving Politics. We will consider selected responses for a follow-up post in the USA TODAY Opinion Forum.
Thank you to everyone who has responded to our previous questions — you are an opinionated group, and we appreciate your thoughtful participation.
You can read more perspectives from USA TODAY columnists and contributors on the Opinion front page, follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @usatodayopinion, and sign up for the Opinion newsletter for curated pieces.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How do you handle Trump, politics at Thanksgiving? Tell us | Opinion