Molly McNearney Severs Family Ties Over Trump Support: The Impact of Politics on Personal Relationships

McNearney expressed that for her, the situation transcended partisan politics and was fundamentally about "family values."

Molly McNearney, television writer and wife of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, has revealed that she has severed communication with certain family members due to their support for US President Donald Trump.

During her appearance on the We Can Do Hard Things podcast Thursday, McNearney disclosed that prior to the 2024 presidential election, she reached out to conservative relatives in an attempt to dissuade them from voting for Trump.

McNearney explained that while Trump's initial election upset her, she maintained some understanding given her upbringing in a conservative Republican household. Her perspective evolved after she left home and encountered diverse individuals. She felt some compassion for family members who she believed were "deliberately misinformed" daily and accepted that information.

"It causes me significant pain because of my personal connection, where my husband publicly opposes this man, and from my perspective, their vote for Trump represents a vote against my husband, myself, and our family. Unfortunately, this has led to the deterioration of relationships with certain family members," she continued.

McNearney emphasized that she viewed the situation not as a Democrat versus Republican issue, but rather as a matter of "family values."

Jimmy Kimmel has consistently criticized Donald Trump throughout his career. Following conservative activist Charlie Kirk's murder in September this year, Kimmel's remarks about the Turning Point USA co-founder generated significant controversy, as reported by Fox News. Disney temporarily suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! for a week before returning the show to broadcast.

Recently, the late-night personality ridiculed Trump regarding his reaction to the November 4 election results. "This was not a good night for the President," Kimmel stated in his opening monologue.

"Everything he touched was a loser. Trump hasn't been this embarrassed since he found out there was a Donald Trump Jr."

The television writer revealed that she sent emails to family members before the election, stating, "'I'm begging you. Here's the 10 reasons not to vote for this guy. Please don't." McNearney reported that approximately 90 percent of recipients either ignored her or responded with what she described as "truly insane responses," creating tension in their relationships.

She acknowledged that these feelings have been "really hard" for her to manage, adding that she sometimes wishes she could "deprogram" herself to make the situation less difficult.

While McNearney has lost contact with some conservative family members, she has developed stronger bonds with relatives whose values she feels are "more aligned with" her own.

"And I hate that this has happened. … It feels silly," she admitted. "You know, part of me goes, 'Don't let politics get in the way,' but to me, this isn't politics. It's truly values. And we just were not aligned anymore."