ABOVE: Donald (L) and Eric Trump. Photo via Eric Trump’s Facebook page.
Donald Trump’s second son Eric has clarified commentary he made Sept. 29 advising that he is a “part of” the LGBTQ community.
Trump appeared on Fox News ahead of the first presidential debate. In a segment discussing “the secret Trump voter,” he was specifically asked about a New York Times opinion piece detailing an unidentified supporter of his father who is allegedly a lesbian.
“Are you counting on this person? On the secret voter?” host Ainsley Earhardt asked.
“That person is there, I’m telling you I see it every day,” Trump responded. “The LGBT community, they are incredible. And you should see how they come out in full force for my father every single day. I’m part of that community and we love the man.”
Watch the exchange below:
Eric Trump: "The LGBT community, they are incredible. And you should see how they come out in full force for my father every single day. I'm part of that community, and we love the man." pic.twitter.com/hl51ftW8l2
— Bobby Lewis (@revrrlewis) September 29, 2020
Following widespread coverage about his LGBTQ commentary, Trump discussed them with the New York Post. “To clarify, many of our close friends are part of the LGBT community, which was the intent of my statement,” he said.
“The left has taken that vote for granted for a long time and support from the gay community for my father is incredible,” he continued. “As to me personally, as I think you know, I am a happily married man to my wife, Lara.”
The outlet added that “Trump also affirmed that he is not bisexual.” Read more here.
Prior to Trump’s clarification, the Washington Blade noted that while he referenced strong support among members of the LGBTQ Community for his father, “polling data suggests otherwise.” In one poll of 30,000 registered voters who identify as LGBTQ, Biden led Trump 64% to 19%.
The outlet also explained that while a recent survey on the dating app Hornet found high support for Trump, polling experts likened it to “sloppy, clickbaity journalism.” Only 1,200 men were surveyed in a sample of 10,000 worldwide Hornet users.
The further concluded that he ignored “the anti-LGBTQ record Trump has built during his administration, including the transgender military ban, administrative actions allowing anti-LGBTQ discrimination in the name of religious freedom and arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court federal civil rights law doesn’t cover LGBTQ people.”
