MSNBC host Joy Reid sparked controversy over the Thanksgiving holiday with her comments targeting Trump supporters and a meme shared by Senator J.D. Vance.

Reid’s remarks, which criticized millions of Americans who voted for Donald Trump, have drawn backlash and further highlighted the divide between left-leaning media figures and conservative voters.

During a segment on Thanksgiving, Reid claimed that some people might avoid celebrating the holiday with Trump voters, accusing them of supporting “autocracy.”

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She characterized Trump supporters as dangerous, preaching that others “have a right to fear them.”

Reid went on to frame her criticisms as a response to perceived grievances from Trump voters. “No one seeks to understand liberals,” she argued, despite mainstream media outlets consistently promoting liberal narratives.

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Reid’s comments were met with swift criticism.

Trump voters, totaling more than 76 million Americans in the last presidential election, were accused by Reid of enabling fascism.

Conservatives countered that their support for Trump was rooted in a desire for limited government and effective leadership, not the authoritarianism Reid suggested.

Critics also pointed out the irony in Reid’s accusations. While she accused conservatives of “whining” about liberal hostility, she dedicated her own airtime to repeatedly attacking Trump supporters. “Joy spends her time complaining about Trump voters, not just Trump himself,” one commentator noted.

Reid’s contentious remarks come as MSNBC grapples with declining ratings in the aftermath of the 2024 election.

Conservative critics argue that the network’s overt hostility toward more than half of American voters has alienated audiences.

“When you’re attacking such a large segment of the American population, it’s no surprise viewers tune out,” one analyst suggested.

Reid’s criticisms didn’t stop with Thanksgiving dinner dynamics.

On social media, she turned her attention to a meme shared by Senator J.D. Vance.

The Ohio Republican posted an image inspired by Norman Rockwell’s classic painting Freedom from Want, replacing the figures with himself and Trump and presenting an electoral map symbolizing their vision for a better America.

The meme, which many interpreted as a lighthearted Thanksgiving message and a nod to their political mandate, triggered an outsized reaction from Reid.

In a TikTok post, she expressed confusion over the image and criticized the message, sparking further debate online.

Reid’s reaction to Vance’s post underscores the ongoing cultural and political divide in the United States.

Conservatives argue that figures like Reid exemplify the left’s inability to engage with opposing viewpoints constructively.

Observers noted that Reid appeared more outraged over a Thanksgiving meme than the pressing challenges faced during the Biden administration, such as economic struggles and rising crime.

This led some to question whether Reid’s focus on Trump and his supporters has reached unhealthy levels.

As the divide between media figures like Reid and Trump supporters grows, critics argue that such rhetoric only fuels polarization, making civil discourse increasingly difficult.

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