Donald Trump claims he wants to “bring people together.”
This is what he said this week to Sue O’Connell, a lesbian reporter who asked the Republican candidate if he would advance LGBT rights during his presidency.
“When President Trump is in office, can we look for more forward motion on equality for gays and lesbians?” the NECN reporter inquired in a video interview posted Thursday. Preceding the question, O’Connell identified herself as a lesbian to Trump and noted the recent “great progress for the gay and lesbian community.”
“Well, you can,” Trump responded. “We’re going to bring people together, and that’s your thing, and other people have their thing. We have to bring all people together, and if we don’t, we’re not going to have a country anymore. It’s gonna be a total mess. It’s a mess right now. It’s going to be worse.”
Trump’s remarks, which were made in advance of the New Hampshire primaries, contradict a statement he made to Fox News last weekend. He told the conservative media outlet Sunday that as president, he would be “putting certain judges on the bench that maybe could change things,” regarding last year’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges that declared same-sex marriage a constitutional right.
For the record, Trump has never supported same-sex marriage. He has historically supported benefits for domestic partnerships, and he’s withdrawn support for civil unions. In an August interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he agreed same-sex marriage was a “dead issue” after the Supreme Court declared it a constitutional right in June.
O’Connell led into her question about LGBT rights with a quote from the late gay icon Joan Rivers, who endorsed Trump shortly before her death last year: “He has a big heart. He’s a good man. And he’s got a big mouth.”
“When are we going to see more of your heart out on the campaign trail?” O’Connell asked.
“Well, I think heart’s very important,” Trump began, and said the large number of GOP presidential challengers and their barrage of attacks have led him to hide the more vulnerable side of his character. “I think as the field gets smaller, people are going to see it.”
“And it was very nice of Joan Rivers to say that,” he added. “I know that she endorsed me very strongly … I felt so badly about the way she went, but she was a terrific woman.”
Hmm. I’ll just borrow some of Dennis Macaulay’s cynicism and be giving this Trump fellow the side-eye.
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22 Comments
ken
February 06, 06:05Trump’s presidency will kickstart the downfall of America. Logically, no gay person should vote a republican. Same reason why I hate the two-faced republican bitch: Beyonce!
Pink Panther
February 06, 06:40*sigh*
Kenny
February 06, 06:40Focus Ken, the post is about Trump not Beyonce.
ken
February 06, 06:43Am extremely focussed. They belong to the same “conservative” (more like homophobic) party!
Pink Panther
February 06, 06:45Beyonce is now Republican?
Ok. #TheHateIsReal
ken
February 06, 07:16Duh! Its a no brainer
Beyonce entire family are registered republicans. And eventhough she claims to be apolitical and non-religious (for obvious career reasons) she was raised a methodist texan girl and played at President W Bush’s inauguration. So duhling, dont let the whipping hair and flexible waist fool u. That bitch is as slimy as a snake.
Pink Panther
February 06, 07:31Yea, all this venom from the abundance of dealings you’ve had with her and the betrayals she has bestowed on you. Abeg find a several seats joor.
Kenny
February 06, 07:33Ken it’s a weekend, have some ice cream and twerk to 7/11. Leave Beyonce abeg
Pink Panther
February 06, 07:37I taya o. You’d think Beyonce snatched JayZ from him, the way he’s going.
Mandy
February 06, 07:48‘…she was raised a methodist texan girl and played at President W Bush’s inauguration…’
Yes, by all means, let’s crucify her for all those transgressions.
Never mind that she is an ardent Obama supporter and – guess what – also played at BOTH his inaugurations.
This ken, your prejudices are too much biko.
segs
February 06, 08:44Calm your tits abeg ? , leave bey alone
#Chestnut
February 06, 07:44U secretly love Beyonce jor,ken! *tongue out*
ken
February 06, 12:00Yea u kinda ryt. Its a love-hate relationship…u knw wen u love someone so much u kinda wanna strangle them slit their throat cut off their boobs n shove it down their throat. The love is soo strong, its almost intoxicating! 🙂
Dubem
February 06, 07:49Isn’t Caitlyn Jenner the LGBT Republican you should be foaming at the mouth against?
bruno
February 06, 10:01lol. who is this?
Kenny
February 06, 06:41Donald Trump??? PP another post please!
Pink Panther
February 06, 06:42LOL. It’s on the way.
ken
February 06, 06:45Pp pls wld u consider adding a modify option to comments we post, cos sometimes theres need to make some corrections
#Chestnut
February 06, 07:43Sometimes, I still wonder if this man is just trolling all of us,and having a good laugh behind closed doors. Like,does he really wanna be president for real, or is he just using everyone to “catch fun”?Can someone who wants people’s votes,really be as…tactless and undiplomatic as he is? Any politician who really wants to succeed,has to be a good actor/pretender (if he’s not genuinely a good person),no?
Pink Panther
February 06, 07:50I swear, Chestnut, I’m on the same boat with you on that. I quite frankly don’t understand the man’s agenda.
segs
February 06, 08:47????????? I know right
Max 2.1
February 06, 13:03Personally I don’t really think he wants to be President, I think he’s there to propell another candidate.. I think he’s there as a side show…He says the most ridiculous unpresidential things. Tueh