President Donald Trump is drawing criticism after making unverified claims about Iran’s leadership and overstating his support among LGBTQ+ voters, as the Iran conflict continues. Speaking on Fox News’s The Five, Trump said U.S. intelligence suggested Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is gay. Trump said, “Well, they did say that, but I don’t know if it was only them…I think a lot of people are saying that.”
There is no public evidence supporting that claim, and U.S. intelligence agencies do not confirm such information. In Iran, homosexuality remains criminalized and can be punishable by death.
Trump also criticized gays for Palestine, adding, “They kill gays… They throw them off buildings,” while defending U.S. policy toward Iran. The president further claimed he did very well with the gay vote, referencing his use of YMCA—a disco anthem by Village People—at campaign rallies. However, data contradict that assertion. According to NBC News exit polls, Kamala Harris received about 86% of LGBTQ+ votes in 2024, compared to roughly 12% for Trump.
