Many Prefer to Steer Clear of Political Talks at Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Politics: A Divided Approach

According to an Emerson College survey, about half of Americans prefer to steer clear of political discussions during Thanksgiving gatherings.

In this survey, participants were asked if they looked forward to discussing politics or if they would rather not talk about it with family and friends this holiday. A little over 50%—specifically 50.7%—said they would opt out of political conversations. On the other hand, roughly one-third expressed enthusiasm for such discussions. Additionally, 16.3% mentioned that they wouldn’t be spending the holiday with friends or family at all.

When asked about Thanksgiving dinner preferences, the survey revealed that three-quarters of respondents are content to have turkey as the main dish. However, around 25% would prefer an alternative.

This survey took place on November 3-4, 2025, with a margin of error of +/-3%.

In a related YouGov survey, 31% of Americans feel they might engage in political talk during Thanksgiving. This includes 31% of Republicans, 26% of independents, and 37% of Democrats. Yet, similar to the Emerson findings, half of those surveyed in this poll do not anticipate discussing politics during the holiday.

More insights from YouGov indicate that 19% of Democrats and 9% of Republicans expect political conversations this Thanksgiving. Most participants who are focused on 2024 candidates believe they will be surrounded by those who share their views during the holiday.

For instance, among those who voted for Kamala Harris in the last presidential election, 45% feel that nearly all attendees at their Thanksgiving celebration will support her, while 18% expect more support for Harris than for Donald Trump. A smaller fraction, 10%, think both candidates will have equal backing.

Meanwhile, leading up to Thanksgiving, former President Donald Trump participated in the traditional turkey pardon, humorously asserting that Joe Biden used an autopen for last year’s pardon. Trump pardoned four turkeys during the event and remarked, “I have a public mandate to determine that last year’s pardon for Turkey is completely invalid… I formally pardoned them, and they will not be served at Thanksgiving dinner.”