While facts are objective, how they are presented and understood profoundly impacts public perception and decision-making, particularly when emotions and lived experiences are involved. The "facts don't care about your feelings" slogan embraced by some in the MAGA movement disregards the reality that facts, stripped of empathy and context, can alienate or harm those affected by them, ultimately undermining constructive dialogue and social cohesion. Facts must be communicated with consideration for the emotional and human dimensions they influence, otherwise they risk being wielded as weapons rather than tools for understanding.
We've seen this in political debates around immigration and healthcare, where facts about economic impact or policy efficiency are often presented without acknowledging the real fears, struggles, and human costs faced by marginalized communities. This detachment not only deepens divisions but also prevents meaningful, compassionate solutions from being crafted, as those most affected feel their experiences are being dismissed in favor of cold, impersonal statistics.
If feelings didn't matter, why do the MAGA party use such large amounts of fear-mongering?
Donald Trump (2018) – "You look at what is marching up, that is an invasion. That’s not, that’s an invasion."
Donald Trump (2020) – "This election is a fraud. They are trying to steal the election from us."
Matt Gaetz (2021) – "They were masquerading as Trump supporters and, in fact, were members of the violent terrorist group Antifa."
Ted Cruz (2021) – "The Biden administration has presided over a super-spreader event at the southern border."
Tucker Carlson (2021) – "The Democratic Party is trying to replace the current electorate with new people, more obedient voters from the Third World."
Donald Trump (2020) – "You’ll have a situation where they will end up not wanting to be policemen or women. You’re going to have a crime wave like you’ve never seen before."
Ron DeSantis (2021) – "They are trying to shove Critical Race Theory down the throats of our children."
Kevin McCarthy (2021) – "President Biden and Democrats have sent a clear message to the world—our borders are open."
Donald Trump (2021) – "The Biden Administration is resettling large numbers of unvetted Afghan refugees into American neighborhoods."
Marjorie Taylor Greene (2021) – "They want you to be required to have something called a COVID passport. [...] Is that something like Biden’s mark of the beast?"