Poll: Most Americans agree, no political talk at Thanksgiving

Millions of Americans will come together with family and friends on Thursday, Nov. 23, to talk about what they’re thankful for, but most say leave the political talk off the Thanksgiving table. According to a Quinnipiac University national poll, 61% of American voters would rather not talk about politics while they are dining at Thanksgiving.

The poll says the wish of a politics-free dinner was similar across all political affiliations and age groups. The poll however, found 29% of voters “are” looking forward to having a political discussion with family during their holiday feast. It just remains to be seen if their loved ones will feel the same way.

A healthy dose of ‘zip it’ will be on the menu as voters acknowledge that if they plan on ‘talking turkey’ over the big meal, it will be about the food and not about politics

Tim Malloy

As for the reason for the political division at the table, 45% of the younger generation polled, 18 to 34-year-olds, believe social media is the main cause, followed by cable television, then political leaders.

The poll’s findings are not a part of an unexpected new trend as an Axios-Ipsos poll found in 2022 that an “overwhelming majority of Americans” wanted to avoid politic talk while visiting with family at Thanksgiving.

“A healthy dose of ‘zip it’ will be on the menu as voters acknowledge that if they plan on ‘talking turkey’ over the big meal, it will be about the food and not about politics,” said Tim Malloy, Quinnipiac University polling analyst.

The Quinnipiac poll showed that 59% of respondents said U.S. politics in the last year has not changed how they feel about political topics at the turkey day table.

However, last years Axios-Ipsos poll found that 41% of Democrats and 29% of Republicans would likely talk politics at the table anyway.