So this has been building up for a while and I honestly just snapped.
I (22M) have a friend (we’ll call him Ashe) who’s been increasingly insufferable when it comes to politics especially the 2024 election. For context, I’m pretty progressive. I don’t mind political conversations when they’re respectful and grounded, but Ashe cannot shut up about “DEI,” “merit-based hiring,” and how “wokeness is destroying everything.” Every single time we hang out, he brings up the election or starts ranting about how white men are being “left behind.” You know typical MAGA talking points.
Mind you this dude is a grown-ass man like twice my age. A whole adult who should know better and not just that he’s also a gay man. A gay man who voted for Trump, complaining about “diversity hires,” and ranting about Kamala Harris because she’s a Black woman. It’s like he’s actively forgotten what side he’s on and what kind of policies he’s co-signing by supporting that mess.
The straw that broke me came when he started whining about how he didn’t get promoted to store manager, and a Hispanic coworker did instead. His exact words were: “They only gave it to him because he’s Latino.” I tried to keep it calm and said, “Or maybe he was just better for the job? Maybe he has skills you don’t. Maybe he earned it.” I even said something like, “You should probably reflect on yourself and think about what you could improve, instead of blaming race for everything.”
Ashe didn’t take that well. He doubled down, saying, “They didn’t give it to me because I’m white.” Then he launched into a full-blown meltdown about Kamala Harris, saying she was only picked because she’s a Black woman and how she wasn’t qualified, claiming the country is doomed because of “diversity hires.”
By the time I lost it, the election was already nine months past it happened back on November 5, 2024 and Ashe was still on this endless Trump‑Harris loop like it had just been yesterday. Most people would’ve moved on, especially since, as we all know, Donald Trump actually won that election. You’d think he’d be satisfied. But no he’s still fuming like he lost. Like bro it’s mid July now. (At the time).
So I finally exploded. I told him he sounded bitter and insecure, and that maybe next time he’ll get the manager position at the gas station if he actually works on himself. Then I flat‑out said his reason for voting for Trump was stupid and that he’s clearly just mad that he’s no longer the default pick for everything. I also may have said something along the lines of, “You’re not entitled to leadership just because you’re white, my dude.” I also kind of told him to grow up.
He stormed off and hasn’t spoken to me since.
Some mutual friends said I was too harsh and that I should’ve just let him vent, but honestly? I feel like I was the only one willing to say what everyone else was thinking.
AITA for finally snapping and calling him out?
Comments
Nope! NTA
NTA and may I just add a standing ovation 👏
NTA
Racists get big mad when POC succeed at anything. They can’t stand to see it, and they can’t fathom that a POC would be better than they are at something.
NTA. He sounds like he is playing the victim card when he is just mediocre. Plus, everyone should just STFU about politics at work unless it is directly relevant.
you handled that perfectly and if he never speaks to you again consider yourself lucky. my god, kamala was the most qualified candidate for president in your weirdo racist nation’s entire history.
As a black woman, thank you for your service!!
NTA; he’s racist. He can claim he’s not, but if you see a POC succeeding and think it HAD to have been a diversity hire, you just admitted that you don’t think POC can succeed just because they’re a person of color
INFO: Why is obvious racism not a dealbreaker for you in a friendship?
He’s a gas station attendant. This checks out so hard
Wait.. he’s gay???
I would have said something like “Dude… no more diversity hires… you can’t keep playing the gay card my friend. Deal with it.”
It seems that you two were destined for this rough language “fight.” Unfortunate but given the backstory I understand your derisive comments. Trump is so brazenly tearing up the fabric of many of our lives that I understand your reaction to the friend who is now whining over being passed over. You aren’t an AH in my opinion.
You’re kidding, right? Obviously you are NTA. I don’t speak to known magas, which are most of them because they are all so embittered that they can’t keep their mouths shut about it. It’s their whole identity.
That dude sounds like a radioactive incel, which he might be even if he’s married.
Ignore him. And you’re right, he must not have anything worth being promoted for.
NTA.
Vent time: That “diversity hire” thing has always pissed me off.
I’ve been accused of being one multiple times and each time, my response has been, “So you think you could do my job better than I can?”
Cue the backpedaling.
No. Either I’m achieving at a job you’re not sure you could handle as well as I do, or else I’m an NPC who only has this job because a quota needed to be filled. Pick one.
NTA. Ashe sounds like your typical MAGA snowflake man-baby.
NTA
No notes.
Should be out of his system by now, he’s been venting for months.
not too harsh, at ALL. these people need to be called out on their bullshit.
NTA Get a new friend. You shouldn’t be friends with racists
NTA. If he does speak to you again, tell him that he didn’t get the job because he doesn’t actually understand what DEI hiring is. 😉
Nope
ESH. The fact that you’re so dismissive that he didn’t get passed over for DEI is just ignorance, as is assuming its what “everyone else is thinking”. It does happen in real life, though certainly not to the extent the maga morons claim it does. Then his description of Kamala was spot on honestly, but his inability to separate real life from politics and worshiping the balls of Trump is rather pathetic as a man. Hopefully i triggered both sides equally here.
Love the creative writings that always make sure to hit one rage topic- be it politics, Trump, “Bible thumping”, racism etc.
Is anything here real anymore?
I am always shocked when people make posts like this… You really think you’re a HA for shutting a bigot?
Well, take on yourself bro. This dude sounds so unreal but at the same time so real…
NTA at all and you should just keep him shut every time he opens his mouth, even if it’s just for breath.
I bet he was also ranting at work, and the boss decided it was best not to have a racist as a manager. If he keeps doing this, he is either going to be fired or exposed on the internet for attacking a POC. Time to drop kick him to the curb.
I like that. Not standard default any longer.
> meltdown about Kamala Harris, saying she was only picked because she’s a Black woman
To be fair, Biden LITERALLY SAID only POC women would be considered for VP. It’s how he got over the hump in SC.
It’s about the only true thing he said.
AI, so yes YTA
NTA, keep calling them out, especially when he will soon be fired for being insufferable, and not that good at his job once other White people are taking his job that is more qualified with inflation due to Trump. Then he can start blaming other White People for his suffering.
NTA. Some of these irreversibly damaged stains need to be put in their place. However, unfortunately, most of it goes over their head.
Wow!!! Talk bigotry
No, NTA. This guy is gross. I don’t even know why you didn’t do this months ago. I am not friends with anyone who voted for him because I don’t consort with nazis. These people are dangerous and should be shunned. They should not be allowed where good people gather.
why are u still friends with them?
YTA. How do you know it wasn’t because he is white
Yta. Yes yta. What’s wrong with liberals
I told an acquaintance the other day who complained incessantly about DEI, “Now that DEI is done, who will you blame when you don’t get that job or promotion or your kid doesn’t get into that college they want? There’s no more boogeyman. You’re now officially inferior.” Man, were they po’d. As they walked away, I reminded them to “be careful what you wish for”.
No, you’re NTA.
NTA
if you know someone who voted for Trump you would be an asshole if you don’t tell them in no uncertain terms exactly what you really think of them.
You absolutely should not just let him vent. People that “Vent” all the time like that are insufferable.regardless of one’s political affiliation, nobody wants to hear the ranting, especially in the workplace. He didn’t get the job because the boss knows exactly what kind of person he is.
Yeah you are
He’s just a crybaby. And he can’t see what’s right in front of his face. I think this is probably a good time to let that relationship go.
NTA.
The jobs POC are stealing from white people are checks notes gas station manager openings? This guy sounds like a massive loser and mega racist. I would’ve blocked his number and never spoken to him again just for voting for Trump so you should 100% stand your ground and never talk to this loser again.
Also maybe don’t be friends with 45 year olds.
NTA about telling him to get a reality check about the job. He has no proof of his claims about his coworker and it’s a measly position to be bitter about. He is just finding something to blame other than himself because that’s easier than facing his own failings. If he honestly thinks he’s manager material, he should apply for other management positions since his company passed him up. If he’s the best candidate for the job, he’ll get it.
As far as the politics of it all, I feel like ESH. You say you’re “progressive” and “don’t mind talking about politics as long as it’s civil,” but when it comes to discussing politics with someone you seem to have more of a problem with the right wing perspective than with the person themselves. He does sound like a bitter idiot, but you’re tying that to his political beliefs, not his personality where that judgement belongs. There are plenty of people both right wing and moderate who are very reasonable and can back up their political beliefs with factual data, logical reasoning and empathy. The outliers on both sides who are advocating for a political belief because they are buying into the tiktokified rage bait they see are the problem, not the politics themselves. Someone isn’t inherently stupid for being liberal or inherently stupid for being conservative. You need to be careful to make the distinction between your political views and your judgements of people.
TL;DR, judge people for their intelligence independently from your judgements of their political alignment and you’re NTA, until then ESH.
NTA, Op. You perfectly summed up the actual issue to this “friend”.
>He stormed off and hasn’t spoken to me since.
And nothing of value was lost.
NTA. Honestly, it sounds like you were just a pressure cooker about to explode. This wasn’t just a random political argument; he was consistently spouting off some genuinely hateful stuff. The dude’s got a whole identity crisis going on, and someone needed to call him out on his blatant hypocrisy. You said what everyone else was too afraid to say, and he got a dose of reality.
Bottom line is… Yes you are! You need to learn to realize friendship is greater than politics.
NTA. if your friend can’t handle the truth, that’s on him. i have no idea why these people have to blame everyone else for their own shortcomings.
NTA. Snowflakes melt in the light of truth.
NTA. Looks like you got rid of some dead weight.
NTA
He’s got massive issues with bias and entitlement. He’s also probably insecure as hell being close-ish if not over 40 and working at a gas station, because he clearly thinks he’s “better than that”.
He’s evidently not, though. He hasn’t lived up to his own expectations and that’s not the new manager’s fault or problem.
NTA, and personally I would’ve gone harder on him–people are literally dying and our country is being destroyed because this dipshit is insecure and refuses to accept that his outlook is what’s making him miserable.
Good, you were honest. Honesty and truth aren’t assholes ever.
YTA.
NTA.
You were not too harsh. He was having racist and sexist outbursts at WORK.
HR should be handling this.
I am so sure he wasn’t promoted because he is white and not because he is a raging loser…
NTA. As a queer person, myself, this is cracking me up. The dude’s gay. He could just as easily be a diversity hire, if he believes that’s the case with this promotion. Racists should always be called out on their bigotry. What do you even get out of the friendship at this point, if all he does is harp on about his toxic views?
Ask him how he feels about voting for a kid fucker.
We all should have called this out decades ago. Good on you.
Ask those mutual “friends” if he was too harsh laming everyone but himself for his problems? And why does he get to vent, but you don’t? He’s upset he didn’t get a job and went on a racist tirade as a vent. You were upset you were friends with a racist that would go on a racist tirade because he didn’t get a job he wasn’t qualified for.
Then realize none of those people are your friend.
NTA. Voting for Trump is a vote for pedophilia and corruption. Trump voters need to be told they made a huge mistake. The ones who regret it now are fixable. The ones who double down at this rate are just beyond help.
Nta
This is Reddit. You could have started this sentence with “He’s a Trump supporter.” And ended your story with “He shot a violent pedophile in the act! Then I looked my friend in the eye, and ripped his heart out of his chest with my bare hands.” and everyone would still say NTA.