Photos: (Left) Eric Trump © Getty Images/Spencer Platt; (Right) Donald Trump holds an LGBT rainbow flag given to him by supporter Max Nowak during a campaign rally at the Bank of Colorado Arena © Getty Images/Chip Somodevilla
Is Eric Trump, the son of President Donald Trump, gay? It would certainly likely come as a surprise to his wife Lara Trump who he has been married to for 6 years. Nevertheless, that is the question people are asking after he claimed on the conservative Fox News that he was 'part of the LGBT community'.
During an appearance on Fox News, Eric Trump was asked if he is aware that his father was supported by members of the LGBT community. To which he responded:
"The LGBT community, they are incredible. I'm part of that community and we love the man and thank you for protecting our neighbourhoods and thank you for protecting our cities."
Eric Trump: "The LGBT community, they are incredible. And you should see how they come out in full force for my father every single day. I'm part of that community, and we love the man." pic.twitter.com/hl51ftW8l2
— Bobby Lewis (@revrrlewis) September 29, 2020
It is highly likely however that the wording of the sentence didn't come across as it was meant to. Washington Post reporter Dave Weigel suggested, plausibly, that Eric was trying to quote a hypothetical LGBT person that he may have previously spoken to.
Eh, Eric is clearly quoting someone from the LGBT community - the "I'm part of that community" line is coming from the hypothetical person he talked to.
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) September 29, 2020
This resulted however in many going online and using the misspoken words as a joke.
— Shelley Johnson (@shelleyj89) September 29, 2020
— 🇺🇸WEAR MASKS SAVE LIVES🇺🇸 (@overrhypocrissy) September 29, 2020
The LGBTQ community kindly asks him to go back in. pic.twitter.com/2T1CW6yHF3
— Jonah Rodriguez (@BookofJonah) September 29, 2020
“Thank you for protecting our neighborhoods, thank you for protecting our cities”... Does he think LGBT is some kind of law enforcement agency?
— Lorne (@LornestoToledo) September 29, 2020
While it is certainly the case that Donald Trump has spoken harshly of immigrants, women and pretty much every person that disagrees with him (and even some that don't), there is little evidence that would suggest that he is indeed homophobic. Prior to the 2016 election, he was seen holding up a large-rainbow flag with the words' LGBT for Trump' written upon it.
LGBT individuals make up around 4% of the United States population and are generally seen as voting Democratic. It would however be wrong to state that absolutely no one in the community is a big fan of Trump. In fact, one of his biggest online cheerleaders prior to his 2016 victory was Milo Yiannopoulos, a gay British man famed for his far-right views. Yiannopoulos was later excommunicated from the far-right after statements regarding pedophilia.
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