Trump claimed that “most gay people” voted for him in 2024. Polls suggest otherwise.

Donald Trump, appearing on Fox News, once again declared himself the favorite of the LGBTQ community. According to the president, he achieved historically high support among gay voters in the 2024 election; however, the raw statistics and his administration’s actual policy actions paint a very different picture.

We explain how Trump justifies his “popularity” and what’s really going on.

What exactly did Trump say?

Appearing on Fox News’ “The Five,” Trump said, “I think I did very well with the gay vote, okay? I even used their national anthem as the closing song at my rallies.” By “anthem,” he was referring to the Village People’s hit song "Y.M.C.A.", which has become an integral part of his campaign. The president suggested that this support might be due to the fact that he is from New York.

What do the numbers say?

NBC News poll data completely contradict Trump's statements. For example, among LGBTQ men Fewer than ... voted for the Republicans 20% (including bisexuals and trans men). Among LGBTQ women Trump's approval rating stood at just 8%.

People of color in the LGBTQ community supported the Democrats even more strongly—91% to 5%.

Who are the “A-gays” in Trump’s inner circle?

Despite his low approval ratings among the LGBTQ+ community, Trump has surrounded himself with a number of influential openly gay individuals, sometimes referred to as “A-gays.” Among them are:

• Richard Grenell, former ambassador and special envoy for special assignments.
• Scott Bessent, Minister of Finance.
• Peter Thiel, a billionaire and co-founder of Palantir.

However, the fact that there are supporters in the highest echelons of power does not negate a policy that human rights advocates describe as discriminatory.

Real Politics: The "Trump-Kennedy Center" and the Fight Against Trans People

While making statements about friendship with the LGBTQ community, the Trump administration is pursuing a hardline conservative stance:

• Restrictions on the rights of transgender people: Trump is calling for a ban on gender-affirming care for minors and for trans women to be barred from participating in women's sports.
• Visa Changes: The State Department has replaced the term “gender” with “biological sex” in its immigration visa regulations, creating barriers for transgender people.
• Ultimatums in Congress: The president stated that he would not sign important bills until the “SAVE Act”—which includes a ban on gender-affirming surgeries for children—is passed.
• Cultural Purge: At the Kennedy Center—which Trump has been informally trying to rename the “Trump Kennedy Center”—programs promoting diversity were scaled back under Richard Grenell, and many productions were canceled in protest.

Note that tens of thousands of people took to the streets of cities in the United States of America on Saturday, March 28, protesting against the policies of President Donald Trump. According to the estimates of the organizers who held demonstrations under the slogan No Kings ("No Kings"), a total of about 8 million people took part in more than 3300 actions. At the same time, no violations of order during the demonstrations were reported at the time of publication of the note.

The organizers, a coalition of citizens' initiatives, accuse Donald Trump of undermining democratic institutions and excessive concentration of power. Demonstrators at the rallies also expressed dissatisfaction with the war between the United States and Israel against Iran and the tightening of migration policy.