Former President Donald Trump has made a baseless assertion that he secured "the gay vote" during the 2024 presidential election, a claim starkly contradicted by official exit polling data. In reality, Trump garnered a mere 12 percent of support from the LGBT+ community, while his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris, achieved an overwhelming 86 percent, marking one of the highest margins for a Democrat in recent electoral history.
Trump's Misguided Boast on Fox News
During a lengthy phone interview on Fox News's panel show The Five on Thursday, Trump insisted, "Now I think I did very well with the gay vote, OK? I even played the gay national anthem as my walk-off, OK? And I think it probably helped me. But I did great. No Republican's ever gotten the gay vote like I did and I'm very proud of it, I think it's great. Perhaps it's because I'm from New York City, I don't know..."
Trump's reference to the "gay national anthem" likely alludes to the 1978 disco track "YMCA" by The Village People, which he has frequently used as a signature song at rallies, often dancing to it on stage. This association provided a MAGA popularity boost for the band, though it also drew criticism from gay rights activists after they performed at Trump's inauguration events in January 2025, even dancing with him in person.
Exit Polls Reveal the Truth
Contrary to Trump's assertions, an NBC News exit poll conducted on Election Day revealed that Kamala Harris secured the support of 86 percent of voters who identify as gay, with Trump scoring just 12 percent. This data underscores a significant disconnect between Trump's perception and the actual voting patterns of the LGBT+ community, highlighting his poor performance with this demographic.
Despite Trump's claims, his administration did include some prominent homosexual figures, such as Scott Bessent, the first openly gay person to lead the Treasury Department, along with Richard Grenell, the former acting director of the Kennedy Center, and Jacob Helberg, the under secretary of state. However, these appointments did not translate into broader support from the LGBT+ electorate.
Trump's Comments on Iran's Leadership
Prior to discussing the gay vote, Trump addressed rumors that Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, might be gay, following a report by The New York Post that the CIA had briefed him on this possibility. Trump remarked, "Well, they did say that, but I don't know if it was only them. I think a lot of people are saying that, which puts him off to a bad start in that particular country, you know?"
He further commented on the irony of groups like "Gays for Palestine," stating, "they kill gays, they kill them instantly, they throw them off buildings, and I'm saying, 'Who are the gays for Palestine?'" Trump has previously speculated that the new ayatollah, who succeeded his father after he was killed in airstrikes, is either dead or "damaged" by U.S.-Israeli attacks, though Iranian state media denies this despite his lack of public appearances.
Overall, Trump's false claim about winning the gay vote serves as a reminder of the ongoing political divisions and the importance of factual data in assessing electoral outcomes, particularly regarding minority communities.
