To say there's a political divide in the United States in 2025 is an understatement. And the two major factions probably haven't been this divided since the Civil War.
After Trump 2.0 took office in January, the schadenfreude has also been strong. Like, how's the price of eggs doing?
More than a few progressives are enjoying their MAGA counterparts realising they're not exempt from the platform they voted for as their spouses get deported, they lose their government job or federal subsidy thanks to Elon Musk's DOGE, and discover tariffs are paid by consumers, not the country importing goods.
There's even a song to capture the feeling of the moment:
The memes abound as well.
It's undeniably petty.
But is petty wrong?
A woman who couldn't suppress her reaction to a MAGA minion neighbor's economic downturn turned to the "Am I The A**Hole" (AITAH) subReddit for feedback.
Similar to AITA, the AITAH subReddit allows posters to ask for advice and post about ending romantic relationships. However there are no official voting acronyms and no final judgment given.
Affectionate_Art3835 asked:
"AITAH for laughing at my MAGA extremist neighbor for getting evicted?"
The original poster (OP) explained:
"I (25, female) live in California. I am Mexican and rent an apartment. I don't have a problem with people of opposing views, if they are open minded and willing to converse peacefully, then there is no issue on my end."
"I do not however, like the extremist MAGAts that have terrorized our country."
"With that being said, I have a neighbor an old White dude who has Trump plastered all over his patio, garage and jeep. Which is fine, like, pop off queen, we love a fan girly!"
"But aside from that, he's also said some stupid comments about me being Mexican, very passive and trying to be funny. But I just walked away cause I don't want to let a wrinkled racist prick bring me out of character."
"And he gives dirty looks when I am coming in or out of my apartment. So I clearly know why he voted for Trump."
"I know people have bad days, but I'm putting two and two together—dirty looks at a Mexican woman and MAGA posters and flags everywhere. He clearly is on the hateful side of politics."
"The other day I overheard him talking to one of the neighbors while I was throwing out my trash, saying he got evicted because the rent was too high and he can't afford it anymore. His words as he was packing his U-Haul."
"I just laughed!"
"Of course, they started to stare, but I just walked away. Because the IRONY of voting for a man who wants to cut/enforce all sorts of acts/bills/regulations that are gonna be costly for most Americans and he is getting evicted!"
"Like, c'mon. I told my boyfriend about this and he said it's messed up to laugh at him for getting evicted, but I don't care."
"I told him he supports a fraud, grapist, bad body bigot who has no morals. So, NO, I don't feel bad."
The OP later added.
"I laughed because he was packing up his Trump memorabilia while saying he was getting evicted because he can't afford rent. You know, the same president that promised a booming economy, but we're suffering the consequences of his incompetence, still."
"I didn't stop and laugh and point. I just couldn't hold the laughter in as I went about my business."
"I mean, if MAGA supporters are mostly made up of inconsiderate, racist, greedy individuals, then I don't see why there is an issue to dislike them. When they don't care for basic human rights."
"I mean, I was able to walk away from his previous snarky comments and not make it political. If anything, he did by openly displaying his love for Trump and his lack of respect for other races and women."
"He had always said things like, 'making tacos tonight' or 'where are you really from' whenever he saw me."
"I guess just built up frustration after the many microaggressions and being the bigger person in every scenario, it was satisfying to see him get what he was putting out!"
Some Redditors weighed in using the AITA voting acronyms:
- NTA - Not The A**hole
- YTA - You're The A**hole
- NAH - No A**holes Here
- ESH - Everyone Sucks Here
Redditors decided the OP was not the a**hole (NTA) for her spontaneous laughter.
"My youngest sister has a neighbor whose wife was deported roughly two weeks ago. Here's the thing: she's Cuban-American and voted for Trump."
"The husband was a Harris supporter through and through. That woman literally voted to have herself deported. The husband claims she's a recently naturalized citizen, but with no due process..." ~ Maleficent_Draft_564
The comments made it clear that there wasn't a lot of sympathy for OP's neighbor.
"I don't understand that mentality here in Florida. My Cuban Venezuelan family also voted for him, citing religion while hiding it was really about hating others."
"My brother is a moron who thinks Trump is a godly man and believes his propaganda. Now if only his toxic girlfriend would get deported, that would be great!"
"I voted for Harris and had to hide it from them. So overall, no, I don't feel sorry for those who get what they voted for in the slightest." ~ StardustJojo13
"Karma hits different when hate finally costs them—you're not wrong for laughing." ~ IconicAngeel
"Yeah, she shouldn't feel bad about laughing. Every time I see a post from a Trump supporter whining about something bad happening as a result of Trump's new policies, I laugh my f*cking a** off and tell them they're getting EXACTLY what they voted for."
"Let's face it, Trump is enacting so much of the Republican manifesto 'Project 2025', they should have known EXACTLY what was going to happen when they voted for him!"
"They're whining about school funding cuts, but federal spending was one of the things he said he'd cut education before he got elected, but they were too stupid to listen." ~ Wynonna_DH
"It makes no sense. That's like my family. I'm Mexican & Filipino. My uncles voted for Trump."
"I'm like really‽‽ You're first generation American. Your parents/my grandparents came to America via Bracero program and stayed here illegally until they finally applied for citizenship in the 70s." ~ lilyevi
"NTA. Hateful people like that get a hoot and holler from decent people going though terrible circumstances, so turnabout is fair play." ~ Hopeful-Card-2931
"I hope it was because he was a federal worker and he got DOGEd." ~ GroovyYaYa
"The funniest karma I've seen thus far? The Department of Defense banned some books for schools around the world for military dependents. The list includes Hillbilly Elegy written by JD Vance."
"I guess what I'm trying to say, just like the word list that targeted achievements for BIPOC and female service members on all Department of Defense sites and pulled them down, the book ban was the same."
"I'm not quite sure which word got Vance's book banned. I know that John F Kennedy's book A Nation of Immigrants is not allowed anymore either."
"I guess it wasn't possible for all races and creeds to have contributed to the flourishing of America. Again, White and Caucasian only." ~ OG-Lostphotos
"NTA. You should have said, 'Trump did that' and walked back inside." ~ AvaLLove
"Honestly, I get it. When someone disrespects you for who you are, it's hard to feel sympathy when karma comes around." ~ Wooden-Analyst8910
"Every single person who voted for Trump is on the hateful side of politics. You can't vote for a racist bigot and claim that you don't support racist bigotry." ~ sonicboomslang
"He should have just pulled himself up by his boot straps." ~ Fe_block
"My wife's cousin was in the US illegally (Peruvian) for almost 20 years. He finally got his legal permanent residency at the end of the Obama administration, then his citizenship during the Biden administration."
"He then voted for Trump, specifically to keep illegal immigrants out. Now that he has his citizenship, he thinks everyone else has to do everything legally."
"He went back to Peru in March to visit. He headed back in early April. He had a long layover in Panama on his way back. He left the airport to get a meal and walk around."
"When he came back to check in for his flight, he was told that his US passport was not valid. He had to turn around and go back to Peru. He has been dealing with the embassy trying to get back ever since, but they aren't making an honest effort to help him."
"He's in total denial about what's happening. He says that it must be something Biden messed up before he left office." ~ Substantial-End-9653
"NTA. There was a time I would have agreed with your boyfriend, but honestly, the Trumplicans have no compassion for people that don't look and act just like them. They wouldn't hesitate to laugh at someone in a minority group being down on their luck, I mean that's half of Trump's damn platform."
"I have ALWAYS tried to lead with kindness, but now I reserve that kindness for those who would show that same kindness to others."
"I hope those fools get every last thing they voted for, and I won't have any sympathy or be offering any aid to any of them either. Let them burn in the fire they stoked." ~ TwoGuysNamedNick
"Hell no, laugh more. And you should congratulate him because he got what he voted for." ~ shiruduck
It seems people found no fault with OP's laughter.
Maybe she can show the post to her boyfriend.
Woman Irate After 'Misogynistic' Date 'Insults' Her In Front Of Waiter For Interrupting Him
While dating is supposed to be fun and the best way to find new love, some people are just not meant to date each other.
Fortunately, people can get out of dating someone, and no reason is too small or petty, members of the "Am I Overreacting?" (AIO) subreddit pointed out.
Redditor Mental_Driver_6134 had been dating a guy on and off for over a year, and while things were okay, there hadn't been a particular reason to make the relationship more serious.
When they went on a date, and the guy publicly insulted her for interrupting him and speaking out of turn, the Original Poster (OP) was not certain it was worth going on another date with him or continuing to string this situationship along.
She asked the sub:
At a restaurant, the OP's date wasn't being clear while speaking with the waiter.
"I went on a dinner date with this guy who I've been with for over a year now, on and off. We discussed the order and were in a good mood overall."
"When the waiter came to take the order, he started explaining him something about his preference for a particular dish. Basically, he didn't want too much garlic in chili burnt garlic noodles."
"Everything was going fine, but I saw that he was taking too much time explaining it and wasn't really getting to the main point, which was less garlic."
"I chimed in and casually said, 'We just want less garlic.'"
"But I couldn't even complete the sentence before he said to me in front of the waiter, 'If you're gonna cut me off like this, I'm not giving any orders, okay?!' in the rudest way possible."
The moment ruined the date for the OP.
"I just went quiet after that. He quickly realized that he made a mistake and tried to cover up by saying that, 'Okay , I won't shout at you next time onwards.'"
"I was really p**sed off but didn't react much to avoid creating a scene."
"On our way back home, he started with his explanation. He said that I tried to make him feel small by cutting him off and lacked basic etiquette and that I should have at least said, 'Can I give my opinion here?- before cutting him off."
"It kept getting worse as he said that since he was the older one and 'The Man,' I should not have interrupted him and let him give the order."
"The whole tone was so misogynistic."
"He even mocked me for not knowing how to use chopsticks properly, which I didn't mind as basic banter, and I told him that there are forks and spoons kept here; it's not necessary to use the chopsticks (he ended up dropping his dumpling while explaining to me how to use chopsticks)."
"When the noodles came, he said that we could use forks then, and I was like, 'No, why not use chopsticks here, as well? You should watch more anime, maybe,' and he then went on to brag about having been to many five-star restaurants, which implied that he knew more than me and that I lacked any 'real experience.'"
The OP was over it by the end of the conversation.
"I was too exhausted from this; it seemed so nonsensical that I left later and told him to maintain a distance."
"Later he was saying that I'm stuck on such a small thing and that he won't shout again, but it was my mistake that I tried to cut him off (which wasn't my intention at all)."
"Also, sidenote: He's like four and a half years older than me. I met him last September and on and off many times with a few months of minimal contact. These offs end with him acting as if nothing happened."
"This incident was the calmest he's behaved if compared to past situations, so you can guess what the worst may have looked like."
"I only gave him a chance cause he was trying to control his anger issues. But I think you can't expect a 29-year-old to fix the misogyny."
Fellow Redditors weighed in:
Some reassured the OP that she was right to be upset.
"He was s**tty, but it was her fault; I just love that. NOR."
"If she hadn’t interrupted his highness, none of this would have happened. Why can’t she just admit it?"
"I’m so glad I’m long out of the dating pool. There is no bar anymore; it’s what can I get from you while I treat you like s**t. Man, the good old days of dating are long over." - Shadow4summer
"NOR. The 'I'm the man' line revealed everything OP needs to know about him. He couldn't handle a simple, harmless interruption, so he tried to humiliate her in public to regain control. Taking his own dumpling dive while trying to act superior is peak karma, honestly." - virelaczi
"NOR! If a 'small' man tries to put you down in public on a date, run the eff away! It doesn’t matter if it’s two dates, two months, or two YEARS!" - Delicious_Winner_819
"Not overreacting, this man is clearly insecure and controlling. Not to mention a misogynist. Instead of being on and off, just be off. It's better to be single than to be with someone who tries to make you feel less than." - curiouscuriel
"'I know better than you.'"
"Should tell you ALL you need to know about this 'man'. Go and find somebody who will treat you as their person... and not an object. That is what is not sitting right with you."
"NOR. And bloody run!!! I wouldn't even give him the time of day after an experience like that." - pootling_1976
"My ex would constantly say, 'You're interrupting me.' I was not. He was a psycho."
"This is how it went, for example:"
"Him: I am ordering chicken and snow peas and white rice [long pause]."
"I start to say ANYTHING (the place is on effing fire!), and he would berate me, 'You interrupted me, you ALWAYS do that, I can never speak, blah, blah blah.'"
"I say, 'Lucifer (what I call him behind his back), you took a long pause. I waited, and I thought you were done.'"
"Then THAT becomes a pile of s**t convo, more berating... He was so manipulative and verbally abusive; I cannot even scratch the surface here."
"So, no. That date is a Lucifer, and you should never even speak to him again." - Belmontisnowhideous
Others pointed out that the OP didn't have to keep dating him if this is how she felt about him.
"Great news! You do not need to spend any more time with this guy." - Blue-flash
"If you marry this guy, this behavior will only get worse. He doesn’t respect women, and he probably never will. I'd stop dating him now before you waste more time." - Additional-Start9455
"NOR. Don’t waste another minute of your life on an angry man. He’ll get worse, not better. Just find a guy who doesn’t need fixing." - Broad_Pomegranate141
"I mean, him being an insufferable smug jerk is not a small thing."
"'I went on a dinner date with this guy who I've been with for over a year now, on and off.' But this strikes me as an elephant in the room."
"It isn't often that good, healthy relationships are on and off again. And given how profoundly rude he was, how immediately he doubled down, how condescending, etc., I can't help but think this isn't the first time he's been gross as a partner."
"NOR, but really ask yourself what you're doing here. This can't be the life you hoped for, and you know he isn't going to change as well." - Traeyze
"NOR. There's no way to live with this kind of man, honestly, and OP should definitely leave this guy."
"A year of on and off with kind of behavior is basically a preview of the next ten." - NoEar4226
"NOR. I've broken up with guys like that by telling them they were right all along. I'm just not smart enough for him. He deserves someone on his own level..."
"Hopefully he picks up the hint and does some self-reflection for his future dates (with other women)."
"For what it's worth, I have two post-graduate degrees." - PomeloPepper
"When someone treats you like s**t, you do NOT have to stay with them, no matter how long you've been together."
"Unfortunately, my therapist had to explain this to me a short time after I started seeing her because my parents never gave me any autonomy to make my own decisions. I didn’t know that I could just leave places that I didn’t feel safe in because it wasn’t an option for me until then."
"Some people do need to be given permission to do what’s best for them because of the way they were treated by their parents."
"Hopefully she does leave him because he sucks, and with the way he treats her, things will likely get worse for her." - Accomplished_Dig284
We've all heard the advice to not cry over spilled milk, but clearly, this date must fuss over garlicky noodles.
To the subReddit, it wasn't worth continuing to date a man who clearly had anger and control issues, especially given everything going on in society right now.
The OP would be better off staying single for a while or dating someone new, preferably someone who respects their differences about noodles and chopsticks.