Former President Donald Trump. (Photo by Gage Skidmore, from Wikimedia Commons)
Former President Donald Trump, whose administration was criticized for being anti-LGBTQ while supporters called him the first Republican president who was a gay rights ally, is set to be among the high-profile guests at the annual Log Cabin Republicans dinner Nov. 6, according to two insiders familiar with his plans.
Trump’s planned attendance at the event, which previously has been held in D.C., is consistent with the new venue for the annual “Spirit of Lincoln” dinner. The sold-out event this year is being held at the Trump-owned resort Mar-a-Lago in Florida.
Former first lady Melania Trump, the recipient of Log Cabin’s 2021 Spirit of Lincoln award, was announced in September as the featured guest at the event and was set to deliver remarks upon receiving the award at the event.
Charles Moran, managing director of Log Cabin Republicans, declined to confirm Trump himself would be in attendance when asked for comment by the Washington Blade.
“Mrs. Trump will be the only member of the family speaking and scheduled to attend the Spirit of Lincoln Gala,” Moran said.
Asked whether that was a denial that former President Trump was set to attend the event, Moran replied: “I’m just telling you what I know.”
Trump’s attendance at the event would be a boon Log Cabin Republicans, which has never before hosted a former president at any of its events. Other high-profile Republicans in the past who have appeared at the annual “Spirit of Lincoln” event are Carly Fiorina, Newt Gingrich, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker and Mary Cheney.
Log Cabin Republicans endorsed Trump in the 2020 election, despite criticism of the Trump administration for his anti-LGBTQ actions, such as the transgender military ban and administrative rollbacks of LGBTQ protections in the name of religious freedom. In 2016, when Trump won the presidential election against Hillary Clinton, Log Cabin opted not to endorse him.
Defenders of Trump in the LGBTQ community pointed to high-profile appointments, such as Richard Grenell as acting director of national intelligence, who spearheaded a global initiative that sought to decriminalize homosexuality.
Trump continues to face scrutiny for his role instigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters, resisting calls to rein them in as they sought to thwart the procedural counting of the Electoral College votes in favor of President Joe Biden. As a result of the attack, Trump was the only president in history to have been impeached twice by the U.S. House, although he was acquitted by the U.S. Senate both times.
The Washington Blade has placed a request with Trump’s office seeking comment on his planned attendance at the event.
