What should I do about meeting my dad’s new girlfriend?

[Anonymous]

My dad has a new girlfriend. This is his first girlfriend after my mothers death about five years ago. He genuinely likes this woman and she makes him very happy. I am glad for him. I do genuinely want him to be happy and he deserves it. my father has asked me to meet this woman. He started talking to me about her and revealed to me that she is a Trumper. That instantaneously turned me off from meeting her or getting to know her in any capacity. The fact that she is a Trumper says a lot to me about her value system. Her value system is the complete antithesis to mine. I take my political beliefs very seriously. I work for a nonprofit that helps the poor. My political beliefs are core part of my personality. I find it very difficult to engage with a person who is a Trumper. It is also completely turned me off from meeting her. I won’t stop her or my dad from dating I just don’t want anything to do with it. my father is very angry at me that I don’t want to meet her. He understands that he doesn’t expect us to be friends or hang out socially all that often but he does want me to meet her and be nice. I can understand that it’s not an outrageous request. But I find it very hard to let my concerns about her go based on the fact that she’s a Trumper. I also have a really hard time hiding my emotions. I don’t have a good poker face. So I feel like even if I meet her and pretend to be nice it’ll come off as exceptionally fake. I asked my dad if I had to meet her and he said yes. I really don’t want to. But I feel compelled to go. I’m just not sure how to handle the situation I know that I need to respect my father, but I also need to respect myself. Please give me some advice on what to do.

[Changiis07]

There's so many people in the world that are good people and the fact that you based it off on her being a trumper as you say is not the way to go on about it. You don't have to see eye to eye with other people to like the them and I get how it's a big part of you but that doesn't mean you have avoid her. You can both learn something about each other. If your dad is happy then some things you should try to let go of and just treat her how you would any other person. Be kind and respect her views and values

[Oliverlogan263]

Ah man that sucks, sounds like you're in a tough spot. On one hand I get why you want your dad to be happy, but if this lady is like a big Trump supporter I could see why you wouldn't want anything to do with her. Politics can be so divisive these days. But your dad really cares about this girl, so you probably gotta bite the bullet and meet her just to make him happy, even if you don't like her views. Just be polite and don't talk politics. Maybe she's actually nice in person, you never know. And at least your dad will see you're trying. Afterwards if you really can't stand her then just keep things surface level if you have to see her again. But don't totally shut her down before even meeting, that wouldn't be fair to your dad. Try to go in with an open mind even if you expect the worst. Hopefully it's not too awkward! Just get through the meeting and you'll be done. Better than making your dad mad, right?

[Iron_Man]

Why do you have to meet her? You probably don’t like that idea anyway. Nobody likes a stepmother.

[Nikki1989]

Avoid her like the plague.

[slatyb]

You are an adult. You don't "have to meet her."