Donald Trump says he ‘loves the gays’ — but as LGBTQ+ policies roll backward under his watch, that feels less like an olive branch and more like gaslighting.
Donald Trump once allegedly said, “I love the gays. They pay the most for the weddings.” It’s the kind of line that feels like parody — except it isn’t. It’s Trump in a nutshell: transactional, crass, and revealing. He loves the gays, sure — when there’s a check involved. But when it comes to rights, protections, and dignity? The record shows four decades of “love” that looks more like sabotage.
Let’s take him at his word, and walk through what that “love” has looked like, year by year.
Donald Trump on Gay Marriage Before the Presidency
- 1980s–2000s: Trump was a New York socialite who happily rented ballrooms for extravagant gay weddings and fundraisers. Behind the scenes, he positioned himself as “traditional,” telling interviewers he opposed marriage equality even while cashing in on it.
- 2011: Asked about same-sex marriage, he said, “I have so many fabulous friends who happen to be gay, but I am a traditionalist.” Translation: he likes you at his club, not at the altar.
- 2016 Campaign: Trump waved a rainbow flag at a rally like he was unveiling a new casino attraction. He told the Republican convention he’d protect “LGBTQ citizens” — a line that sounded historic until you realized it was just a setup for anti-Muslim policies. His VP pick, Mike Pence, was one of the most anti-LGBTQ politicians in America. Trump’s joke at Pence’s expense? “Don’t ask that guy — he wants to hang them all!”
So yes, Trump “loved the gays.” He loved their money, their votes if they strayed Republican, and the optics of holding a pride flag.
Donald Trump’s First Term Anti-LGBTQ Record
Trump took office in January 2017 and almost immediately started rolling back protections:
- 2017: Within hours of his swearing-in, LGBTQ content vanished from White House and State Department websites. By July, he tweeted a ban on all transgender military service “in any capacity.” He also cut questions about sexual orientation from federal surveys, because apparently if you erase the data, queer people stop existing.
- 2018: His administration tried to legally redefine gender as only male or female at birth. He greenlit policies allowing shelters to turn away trans people and prisons to house inmates by “biological sex.” His State Department blocked visas for same-sex partners of diplomats. Love was in the air — if you were straight.
- 2019–2020: The transgender military ban formally took effect. His DOJ argued to the Supreme Court that firing someone for being gay or trans was perfectly legal. His HHS gutted ACA protections for trans patients. He even fired the entire HIV/AIDS advisory council.
By the end of his first term, watchdogs logged nearly 200 anti-LGBTQ actions. That’s a lot of love.
Trump’s Campaign Rhetoric and Anti-Trans Attacks
In 2021–2024, Trump turned his rallies into open-mic nights of anti-trans panic:
- Claimed schools were “secretly transitioning children” behind parents’ backs.
- Released a campaign ad attacking Kamala Harris with the line: “Kamala is for they/them. President Trump is for you.” It was as subtle as a sledgehammer.
- Mocked Pete Buttigieg’s paternity leave and suggested America wasn’t ready for a president with a husband.
All while still hosting gay Republicans at Mar-a-Lago, raising champagne glasses and calling it inclusivity. The split-screen was almost comical.
Trump’s Second Term: LGBTQ Rights Under Attack
When Trump returned to office in 2025, the gloves came off:
- Day One: Signed an order declaring the U.S. only recognizes two sexes, male and female. Trans and non-binary people were erased from federal ID systems overnight.
- Military: Reinstated the trans ban, this time ordering active-duty trans service members discharged. His EO even claimed trans troops lacked “honesty and integrity.” Nothing says love like questioning a decorated soldier’s humanity.
- Schools: His Education Department forced districts to roll back trans-inclusive bathroom and sports policies, framing inclusion as “radical gender ideology.”
- Healthcare: His DOJ subpoenaed hospitals for the medical records of trans youth — an intimidation campaign that scared some clinics into halting care.
- Symbols: Ordered the Navy to rename a ship that honored Harvey Milk. Even the dead, apparently, get no reprieve.
- Global Impact: Froze AIDS relief programs abroad, with experts warning millions could die as a result.
This is what Trump’s “love” looks like when it’s fully operational: erasure, punishment, and a paper trail of cruelty.
What “I Love the Gays” Really Means for Donald Trump
So when Trump says he “loves the gays,” believe him — just not the way you might think. He loves the checks at Mar-a-Lago. He loves the applause line at a rally. He loves the culture-war ammo.
But love as equality? Love as dignity? That’s never been on the table.
Trump’s record is less “I love the gays” and more “I love that I can use the gays.” The joke, as always, is on us — and it’s not very funny when you read the timeline.
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