President Donald Trump claimed he won the gay vote in the 2024 election, even though data shows he received only 12 percent of support from the LGBTQ+ community. The statement came during a phone interview on Fox News’ The Five on March 25, where Trump touched on multiple topics including foreign leaders, women, and LGBTQ+ voters.
In the interview, Trump commented on rumors about Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Iran’s late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, claiming he had heard that Khamenei was gay. Trump suggested that such information would “put him off to a bad start in that particular country,” highlighting his continued focus on social issues and cultural differences abroad.
He then shifted to domestic politics, reflecting on women and LGBTQ+ supporters of Palestine. Trump noted the dangers these groups face under regimes that punish women for dress codes and execute LGBTQ+ individuals, including throwing them from buildings. He framed this discussion as a contrast to his own political alliances in the United States.
Trump repeatedly returned to his claims about the LGBTQ+ vote in America. He stated that he felt “very united with the gay vote” and cited playing the song “Y.M.C.A.” by the Village People as part of his campaign strategy, suggesting it helped him connect with the community. He added, “No Republicans ever got the gay vote like I did. And I’m very proud of it. I think that’s great. Perhaps it’s because I’m from New York City, I don’t know.”
Exit polls from NBC News provide a clear picture of the reality. In the 2020 election, Trump did receive roughly 27 percent of the LGBTQ+ vote in his loss to Joe Biden. In 2024, however, his support among LGBTQ+ voters plummeted, with former Vice President Kamala Harris winning 86 percent of that demographic. Despite these figures, Trump’s statements portray a narrative of electoral success with a community where he faced significant losses.
The disconnect between Trump’s claims and the poll data underscores the broader tensions in his messaging and the party’s efforts to court LGBTQ+ voters. Analysts note that the drop from 27 percent to 12 percent highlights the widening gap between Trump’s public statements and voter behavior, raising questions about how the Republican Party engages with social issues and diverse constituencies moving forward.
