One high school student from Texas who supported Democratic Senate candidate Beto O’Rourke came together with a Trump supporter after Tuesday’s midterm elections because “friendship is always more important than politics.”
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Colton Winters’ post on Twitter immediately went viral.
At the end of the day, always remember that friendship is always more important than politics ?♥️ pic.twitter.com/QSD7x96AKG
— Colton Winters (@ColtonWinters_) November 6, 2018
“I will not accept hate and division. I choose to find common ground and work with the other side when possible,” Winters wrote in a follow-up tweet. “That is how America was created, and that is what we must continue to do to better our country.”
While plenty of Twitter users slammed the teenager for boasting about his friendship with a Trump supporter, there were some who praised Winters for his kind-hearted tweet:
Reminds us of #RuthBaderGinsburg's friendship with Antonin Scalia. ?❤️ https://t.co/W9yoR4b5OM
— IWF (@IWF) November 8, 2018
Good on you guys
— Cameron Kasky (@cameron_kasky) November 7, 2018
You’re right!
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) November 8, 2018
Sadly, though, the majority of the responses Winters received were criticizing him for his friendship with a conservative teenager. Winters said he’s received “thousands” of hateful comments in response to his photo.
Hey man, I thought you had a beautiful message. Disagreement doesn’t have to manifest itself as hatred. Stay up.
— Jim Parrack (@parrack120) November 7, 2018
In the final tally, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) beat out O’Rourke by a thin margin, keeping his seat with 50.9 percent of the vote, compared to his Democratic opponent’s 48.2 percent.