Donald Trump: Uncovered Interview Shows Pro-LGBTQ Views From President-Elect
Donald Trump securing the presidency on Wednesday morning has led to protests all around the country, largely due to his controversial statements about Muslims, Hispanics, African-Americans, women and the LGBTQ community.
However, a 2000 interview with Advocate shows a more liberal Trump, accepting of the LGBTQ community, willing to fight for its rights.
“I grew up in New York City, a town with different races, religions, and peoples,” Trump said. “It breeds tolerance. In all truth, I don’t care whether or not a person is gay. I judge people based on their capability, honesty, and merit. Being in the entertainment business — that is, owning casinos and … several large beauty pageants — I’ve worked with many gay people. I have met some tough, talented, capable, terrific people. Their lifestyle is of no interest to me.”
Trump, 70, spoke about a potential run for president as early as 1980. But in 2000, he made his first serious attempt as part of the Reform Party. A lot of his proposed policies from 16 years ago mirror what the former reality television star has vowed to implement upon taking office.
- Making the “economy boom.” Trump spoke about a one-time tax on the wealthy and intention to create jobs.
- Stop America from being taken advantage of — much like his year-and-a-half long discussion about the United States’ poorly negotiated trade deals.
- Trump has said he will repeal and replace the “disaster known as ObamaCare.” While he seems to have lightened on that stance, in 2000, he mentioned getting Universal Healthcare as one of his goals.
- Inspire confidence in America: A copy of his current Make American Great Again slogan.
Is Donald Trump already walking away from campaign promises? https://t.co/LRVHL6ILnH pic.twitter.com/b525vbZ6u4
— CNN (@CNN) November 12, 2016
At the Republican National Convention in July, Trump promised to fight for the LGBTQ community and protect them from a “hateful foreign ideology.” In 2000, he proposed amending the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which ruled discrimination based race, color, religion, sex, or national origin to include sexual orientation.
“We don’t need to rewrite the laws currently on the books, although I do think we need to address hate-crimes legislation,” he said. “But amending the Civil Rights Act would grant the same protection to gay people that we give to other Americans — it’s only fair.”
The real estate mogul did mention that marriage, in his opinion, is an institution “between a man and a woman.”
“I would want the best and brightest. Sexual orientation would be meaningless,” Trump said. “I’m looking for brains and experience. If the best person for the job happens to be gay, I would certainly appoint them. One of the key problems today is that politics is such a disgrace, good people don’t go into government. I’d want to change that.”
All of these comments have merit as Trump, who will be sworn into office on January 20, 2017. It was announced on Friday that openly gay Paypal co-founder Peter Thiel will be a part of Trump’s administration.
JUST IN: Trump names 3 of his children, son-in-law, Bannon & Peter Thiel to transition team lead by Pence & Christie pic.twitter.com/hPMjRN8MWx
— Jackson Proskow (@JProskowGlobal) November 11, 2016
The president-elect has a lot of positions to fill in the coming months and a lot of responsibility coming in the next four years. While he expressed confidence in winning the election this time, in 2000, he admitted he may be “too blunt for politics.”
After a campaign that included rhetoric singling out minorities, that proved to be far from the truth. However, the last part of his interview proved to be 100 percent fact.
“I don’t need the job to feel good about myself. In fact, I feel pretty good right now. But I guarantee you this. If I do run, it won’t be boring.”
[Featured Image by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images]
