5 years ago, I (28F) met 2 guys (28M and 29M) at my first full-time job. We instantly became good friends and remained very close even though none of us work at the same company. We hang out once every few weeks, text in our group chat a few times a week. We openly talk about our personal struggles, confide in each other regularly, as well as talk about our honest opinions.

28M is part of the LGBTQ community and a Democrat, while 29M and I tend to lean right on economic issues and some social issues but also lean left on certain social issues. We all know how we each voted in the 2020 and 2024 elections and had political discussions before, and everyone seemed to respect each others’ opinions.

About 3 weeks ago, what started as a small political comment from 29M triggered 28M to go on a tirade and attack 29M and I for being selfish and not caring about others in this world. He accused us of not caring about the federal DOE being disbanded, not having compassion for people in Gaza, how all we care about is the economy (and he doesn’t “because the economy doesn’t affect his job”), how it will be our fault if gay marriage becomes illegal one day, etc. I tried to point out that we never said we don’t care about these issues nor are those true statements, and we all just simply voted for what was the most important to us. He was triggered despite him also voting for what was important to him (and acted like I was the biggest AH with no morals for saying that).

Eventually I forced all of us to end the topic of conversation for the sake of our friendship because 28M was getting out of control (like sending paragraph after paragraph in the middle of a workday). He agreed to end it and said that he wasn’t mad or upset at us and just wanted to have a conversation. Our conversations went back to normal for a few days and we all started cracking jokes like how we always did.

However, these past 2 weeks, 28M has been ignoring 29M and I in our group chat. I’m almost positive that he told his boyfriend and/or other friends (who are also very liberal) about the conversation and they probably told him he shouldn’t be friends with 29M and I. 29M and I have texted separately since the incident about work stuff but haven’t talked about 28M yet.

AITAH for saying that everyone votes based on what is important to them? I still stand by that belief and truly think 28M is just too blinded to see he does the same.