{"id":47654,"date":"2019-06-19T10:04:03","date_gmt":"2019-06-19T15:04:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/2019\/06\/19\/the-publics-level-of-comfort-talking-politics-and-trump\/"},"modified":"2024-04-14T03:47:06","modified_gmt":"2024-04-14T08:47:06","slug":"the-publics-level-of-comfort-talking-politics-and-trump","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/politics\/2019\/06\/19\/the-publics-level-of-comfort-talking-politics-and-trump\/","title":{"rendered":"4. The public\u2019s level of comfort talking politics and Trump"},"content":{"rendered":"

Americans are much more cautious about talking politics with others than discussing a range of other subjects, including the weather and sports.<\/p>\n\n

Comfort with talking about the weather is near universal: 95% of the public says that they would be either very (74%) or somewhat (22%) comfortable talking about the weather with someone they don\u2019t know well. Sizable majorities also say they would be very or somewhat comfortable talking about movies and television (90%), the economy (77%) and sports (69%).<\/p>\n\n

\"Many<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

The public is less comfortable talking about politics, religion and Donald Trump. Overall, 55% say they would feel at least somewhat comfortable talking about Trump with someone they do not know well; just 25% say they would feel very comfortable doing this. Public comfort talking about religion is similar: 60% would be at least somewhat comfortable discussing this subject, but only about a quarter (24%) would feel very comfortable.<\/p>\n\n

Talking politics ranks even lower on the public\u2019s comfort list. Just 17% say they would be very comfortable talking politics with someone they don\u2019t know well; another 35% say they would feel somewhat comfortable.<\/p>\n\n

\"Republicans<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

Partisans express similar levels of comfort discussing topics like the weather, sports and entertainment, but Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say they are comfortable talking about Donald Trump, the economy and religion.<\/p>\n\n

Two-thirds of Republicans and Republican leaners (67%) say they would be very or somewhat comfortable talking about Trump with someone they don\u2019t know well, while only about half of Democrats and Democratic leaners (48%) say this.<\/p>\n\n

Republicans also are more likely than Democrats to say they would feel comfortable talking about the economy (83% vs. 73%), religion (69% vs. 55%) and politics (57% vs. 49%).<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>Half say it is stressful to talk politics with people they disagree with<\/h3>\n\n
\"Many<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

When it comes to political conversations with those they disagree with, the public is split in their reactions: Half say talking politics with people they disagree with is generally stressful and frustrating, while about as many (48%) say it is interesting and informative.<\/p>\n\n

Democrats and Democratic leaners (53%) are slightly more likely than Republicans and Republican leaners (47%) to say political conversations with people they disagree with are stressful and frustrating. The share of Democrats who find these conversations stressful is higher than it was in the spring of 2016 \u2013 prior to Donald Trump\u2019s election \u2013 when 45% said this. Views among Republicans have changed little over the past several years.<\/p>\n\n

Liberal Democrats are especially likely to say they find political conversations with people they disagree with frustrating: 63% say this, compared with 44% of conservative and moderate Democrats.<\/p>\n\n

There also is an ideological divide in these views among Republicans: Conservatives (52%) are more likely than moderates and liberals (39%) to find talking politics with people they disagree with to be stressful and frustrating.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>Offering your views on politics \u2013 and Trump \u2013 over dinner<\/h3>\n\n

When asked to think about being at a small dinner with strangers who disagree with them about Donald Trump, Americans who approve of his job performance are more likely to say they would share their own views about him than are those who disapprove.<\/p>\n\n

\"Trump\u2019s<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

Nearly six-in-ten adults who approve of Donald Trump\u2019s job performance (57%) say they would share their views about the president at a small dinner where the other guests are talking about how they really dislike Trump. Only about four-in-ten of those who disapprove of Trump (43%) say they would be likely to share their views in a scenario where people at the table were talking about how they really like Trump.<\/p>\n\n

Similar dinner party scenarios were asked about for three other political topics (note: each respondent was only asked about one scenario)<\/em>. However, for these other topics \u2013 minimum wage, gun policy and a border wall with Mexico \u2013 there is no gap by issue position in the shares who would volunteer their views. For instance, 74% of those who favor raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour and 70% who oppose this say they would voice their opinions to a group of dining companions who are expressing views opposite to their own.<\/p>\n\n

In addition, for all three issue areas, clear majorities \u2013 regardless of their stance on the topic \u2013 say they would express their views at the dinner.<\/p>\n\n

A survey experiment: Sharing political views with strangers who disagree<\/div>