In a move that has shocked many, President Donald Trump recently shared a post on his Truth Social platform featuring a graphic of a downward-pointing Pink Triangle – a symbol historically used by the Nazis to mark queer men during World War II. The post was linked to an article titled “Army recruitment ads look quite different under Trump” by former U.S. Army intelligence captain Jeremy Hunt.
The piece criticizes President Biden’s inclusive military ads, suggesting that under Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, the U.S. military has shifted its focus to aggression and lethality, moving away from messages of inclusion. However, the issue isn’t just the content of the article; it’s the Pink Triangle itself. The downward-pointing triangle is a deeply troubling symbol with dark historical roots. During Nazi Germany, it was used to identify and persecute gay men in concentration camps, where they were subjected to medical experiments, castration, and execution.
While the LGBTQ community has reclaimed the Pink Triangle, using it as a symbol of resistance and remembrance, its use in Trump’s post has ignited fear and concern within queer communities. This comes on the heels of several controversial actions Trump has taken during his second presidency, including his reinstatement of the ban on trans individuals in the military and a ban on healthcare for transgender minors.
Critics have noted that this post adds to a growing climate of fear for queer people in the U.S., especially as Trump continues to push policies that critics say undermine LGBTQ rights. This latest incident comes just months after tech mogul Elon Musk, a major Trump donor, faced backlash for what many considered a Nazi salute at a Trump rally.
