📌 Responding to WHATABOUTISM in our political conversations
How to Have Better Political Conversations, Part 2
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What is whataboutism?
Whataboutism is a rhetorical tactic where someone responds to an accusation or criticism by pointing out a different issue or wrongdoing, often to deflect attention from the original topic. Instead of addressing the initial point, they shift the focus to something else.
In short, whataboutism is a response that sounds like, ‘But what about this other problem??’
Examples
Person A: “I think President Trump's tariffs on Chinese goods will hurt American consumers by increasing prices.”
Person B: “But what about President Obama? He didn't do enough to address trade imbalances with China. Why aren't we talking about that?”
Person A: “We should reduce our carbon footprint and invest in renewable energy.”
Person B: “What about China and India? They pollute way more than we do.”
Person A: “We should focus on improving racial equality.”
Person B: “What about the discrimination against other groups? They face issues too.”
Using and responding to whataboutism
Whataboutism has been used in political conversations by individuals across the political spectrum, but it’s important to note that using whataboutism in your conversations has its pros and cons.
On the one hand, it can point out inconsistencies and hypocrisies, broaden the subject, highlight a legitimate counterexample, reveal problematic assumptions, and help folks clarify their position.
On the other hand, it can erode trust, weaken your credibility, polarize the discussion, and be perceived as an attempt to distract, confuse, and avoid accountability.
Before engaging in this or any other tactic, we recommend that you reflect on why you want to use this tactic and ask yourself if it aligns with your values and long-term goals.
5 ways to constructively respond to whataboutism
Stay Focused: Politely steer the conversation back to the original issue.
“It seems that we’re getting off-topic, let's address the issue at hand first.”
Acknowledge and Redirect: Recognize the counter-argument briefly and then redirect to the main topic.
“I understand that there are other issues, but right now we're discussing...”
“That's an important issue, but let's address the current topic first.”
“We can discuss that other issue later, but for now, let's focus on....”
Ask for Relevance: Question how the counter-argument relates to the current discussion. This can help move both parties towards a mutual understanding or highlight a deflection.
“I’m not sure I follow. How does that relate to what we're talking about right now?”
Highlight the deflection: Acknowledge what the other person says, but make it clear that it is a distraction from the current topic.
“I can hear that this is important to you, but bringing up another issue doesn't change the fact that we need to discuss this one.”
Use Facts: Stick to factual information and avoid getting drawn into emotional arguments. This helps keep the discussion grounded.
Set Boundaries: If the conversation continues to derail, it might be helpful to set boundaries and suggest returning to the topic later.
What’s your experience?
Have you experienced whataboutism in your conversations? Did it help the conversation or hinder it? What was your response? Share your story in the comments below!
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References
The Conversation. “Whataboutism: what it is and why it’s such a popular tactic in arguments.” May 20, 2022. https://theconversation.com/whataboutism-what-it-is-and-why-its-such-a-popular-tactic-in-arguments-182911
Encyclopedia Britannica. “Whataboutism.” https://www.britannica.com/topic/whataboutism (Accessed April 3, 2025)
Utopia. “How to Recognize, Expose Counter Whataboutism.” https://utopia.org/guide/whataboutism/ (Accessed April 3, 2025)
I frequently was subjected to whataboutism in political conversations with my former friend who was MAGA. Like, all the time in every conversation! It is exhausting, unfair, and left me feeling drained after every one of these conversations. This was exacerbated by the fact that our dialogue must often happened via text rather than verbally. I thought maybe it was due to his self-claimed ADHD but now I believe it stemmed more from his own anger when I presented a well-reasoned opinion or even an undebatable fact. It was a form of his narcissism in action. We are no longer friends. We had a friendship divorce with once Trump’s abuse started affecting me and those I cared about.