Liberal New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof told his readers to avoid stereotyping President Trump’s supporters as bigots and racists.
In an op-ed published Thursday morning, Kristof, who has called Trump a racist himself, said the president’s supporters are more “complicated” than they are often portrayed.
Everybody will disagree with my column today, arguing against liberal vilification of Trump voters. https://t.co/mbTg9oiNoF Read! pic.twitter.com/R3kxqM91ZC
— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) February 23, 2017
“I understand the vehemence,” he said. “Trump is a demagogue who vilifies and scapegoats refugees, Muslims, undocumented immigrants, racial minorities, who strikes me as a danger to our national security. By all means stand up to him, and point out his lies and incompetence. But let’s be careful about blanket judgments. My hometown, Yamhill, Ore., a farming community, is Trump country, and I have many friends who voted for Trump. I think they’re profoundly wrong, but please don’t dismiss them as hateful bigots.”
On social media, Kristof anticipated his readers would continue to disagree and he was largely correct.
“In other words, [we] forgive their stupidity,” one person said on Twitter.
“You’re right, I do disagree and I’m not affording you with a click or wasting my time reading it,” said another.
