Wisconsin Socialist Backtracks on Canceling Thanksgiving Claim
A Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial candidate who previously called to "cancel Thanksgiving" as a celebration of colonialism now claims it is her favorite holiday of the year.
Francesca Hong, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor, attempted to walk back her inflammatory November 2021 social media post calling to “cancel Thanksgiving” during a Wednesday appearance on Politico’s Playbook podcast, according to Ella Morrison and Victor Nava writing in New York Post.
During the podcast interview, Hong made the startling claim that Thanksgiving is actually her preferred holiday, stating she has no intention of canceling it and in fact loves the occasion. She told host Irie Senter that Thanksgiving represents a major event for her family, though she characterized herself as generally unenthusiastic about holidays overall.
The reversal stands in stark contrast to Hong’s deleted social media tirade from November 2021, issued during the COVID-19 pandemic. In that post, she declared Thanksgiving “should have been done in 1621” and denounced Americans for “celebrating colonialism.” She went further, describing the original Thanksgiving as a superspreader event responsible for killing indigenous people and women, referencing the spread of smallpox among Native American populations.
Hong’s hostility toward American traditions extends well beyond Thanksgiving. A review of her social media activity reveals she has publicly criticized at least seven U.S. holidays, including Independence Day, Christmas, Halloween, Valentine’s Day, and both Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.
The gubernatorial candidate’s podcast comments followed an awkward CNN appearance Monday in which she delivered a rambling 46-second response when anchor Kaitlan Collins asked directly whether she still believes Thanksgiving should be eliminated. Hong avoided giving a straightforward yes or no answer, instead pivoting to her background as a chef and restaurant owner, claiming her hospitality experience would help her bring people together as governor.
The timing of Hong’s reversal coincided with revealing news from Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who confirmed he will not be endorsing her campaign despite backing more than 70 left-wing candidates for various offices this election cycle. Sanders told the “Pod Save America” podcast he met Hong years ago and found her pleasant, but acknowledged unfamiliarity with the race and said his focus remains on congressional contests that could check the Trump administration.
Despite the lack of support from the democratic socialist icon, polling data shows Hong commanding a substantial lead in the Democratic primary field ahead of the August 11 election.
With information from New York Post
