Donald Trump has once again attracted attention with his statements about LGBT+ people and international politics. On Fox News and in an interview with blogger Jake Paul, the US president made several statements that are not supported by the facts. We tell you what exactly he said and how things really are.
What happened?
Speaking in the program The Five on Fox News, Trump statedthat representatives of American intelligence allegedly informed him about the homosexuality of the new supreme leader of Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei. "Well, they said so, but I don't know if it was just them," Trump added. "I think a lot of people say that."
Immediately afterward, he moved on to the topic of his political support, stating that his use of the Village People's disco hit "YMCA" (which he called a "gay anthem") helped him get very high results among LGBT voters.
Is it true?
In short: no.
- About Iran: There is no public evidence that Mojtaba Khamenei is gay. U.S. intelligence agencies have not officially confirmed such claims. It is important to note that in Iran, homosexuality is criminalized and punishable by death.
- About LGBT+ voices: Trump has repeatedly claimed to have "won the gay vote," but exit poll data shows otherwise. According to an NBC News poll, in the 2024 election, about 86% of LGBT+ voters voted for Kamala Harris, and nothing more 12% — for Trump. This is an even larger gap than in 2020.
Why is Trump talking about this?
Trump often uses the persecution of LGBT people in Iran to justify his heavy-handed actions in the Middle East. He stated that Iran is "throwing gays off the rooftops," contrasting this with the position of the United States.
However, human rights activists criticize the president for hypocrisy. They point out that while using rhetoric about protecting LGBT+ rights in Iran, the Trump administration is simultaneously trying to deport LGBT+ asylum seekers (including same-sex couples) back to countries where they face death.
What else do you need to know?
Trump's actual actions toward the LGBT community are often at odds with his statements of support. GLAAD Project Trump Accountability Tracker recorded more than 300 cases, including decrees and statements that are assessed as harmful to the community. Among them:
- Attempts to deport gay asylum seekers to countries with repressive laws.
- Rhetoric that reduces the lives of LGBT people to political slogans without taking into account the impact of realpolitik on their security.
As for the song "YMCA", the members of the Village People group have long objected to its use at Trump's rallies, although they later softened their position and even performed at events related to his second inauguration. However, the data shows that the use of the song alone did not lead to a mass defection of LGBT voters to the Republican side.
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