I am not a trump fan, but have lots of family that are.

But you came here saying you are trying to understand your families views, but then proceeded to explain all the ways those views are untenable. Mmmm, ok. But I am not left feeling that you have made any progress on your claimed goal.

Really reacting to your post, would be seven posts long, so let me just leave you with two observations:

-- the "facts" that they left accept as clearly true are not the same "facts" that the right accepts as clearly true. (and many of those "facts" on both sides are not nearly as cut and dry as either side believes)

-- much of America feels dramatically 'unheard' by the left. Trump speaks and acts in a way that they feel heard.

The left will of course has a very cynical take on both of those truths... I wont dispute that cynical take. But if you really want to understand your family, you need to understand the ways that those two things are true.

and coming here to talk about it on lefty-medium is kinda silly... it is just speaking to the choir. Who will just all agree with you, and validate what idiots those conservatives really are. again that is fine, but it is not "gaining consensus" with your relatives.