Donald Trump’s second term has brought renewed attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, with Robby Starbuck leading the charge. A former Hollywood music video director, Starbuck is known for opposing DEI, queer rights, and what he calls “woke leftism.” He directed The War on Children, an anti-LGBTQ documentary promoted by Elon Musk. Since June 2024, Starbuck has pressured brands like John Deere and Lowe’s to drop DEI initiatives. While he claims victory, reports suggest many companies made only minor changes.
Starbuck also falsely links gender identity to chemical exposure and has attacked LGBTQ families, including claims that Megan Fox committed child abuse by apparently “forcing” her children to wear girls’ clothes in a social media post, which has since been deleted.
Now, with Trump in power, Starbuck has an ally. Trump has already signed an order eliminating DEI from the military and placed government DEI staff on leave. He’s also targeting birthright citizenship, a move that ironically could impact Starbuck himself. However, there is no denying the dramatic effect Starbuck has had on influencing some of the world’s largest corporations and their diversity programs. He continues to be a developing story for LGBTQ activists and our entire community.
