Why Do People Vote Against Their Own Interests? Abdul El-Sayed Explores the Rise of Donald Trump

Abdul El-Sayed, a physician and public health expert, was shocked to learn that his aunt and uncle voted for Donald Trump. Rather than argue with his relatives, El-Sayed strove to understand them. In talks, he explains how a breakdown of our shared institutions has led to increased segregation, and a lack of understanding for our fellow citizens. 

Poor and working class families in low-income white communities voted for Donald Trump in 2016 because they saw him as an alternative to the establishment. Abdul El-Sayed suggests these voters were able to ignore Trump’s bigotry and racism partly because they were unable to understand the lives and experience of non-white citizens. Thanks to a breakdown of civil society—where we have traded our public institutions and collective experiences for the often alienating space of the Internet—we have lost sight of each other. Watch El-Sayed’s video below to hear more.

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