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Recruited by the Log Cabin Republicans, the first lady distorts her husband's record in a last-ditch effort to sway LGBTQ+ voters.
First Lady Melania Trump filmed a video for the Log Cabin Republicans -- an LGBTQ+ GOP organization that endorsed Donald Trump's reelection -- claiming her husband is pro-gay, even though his policies have harmed gay people and the entire LGBTQ+ community.
The video begins with the first lady claiming her husband is an "outsider" who wants all Americans to prosper, though he has staked his entire political career on white grievance and overt racism. Melania Trump then reverted to the role her family often falls back on: victim. She claimed Donald Trump earned the ire of powerful political insiders because he challenged the status quo.
"I was shocked to discover that some of these powerful people have tried to paint my husband as antigay or against equality," Trump says. "Nothing could be further from the truth."
\u201cFirst Lady Melania Trump supports freethinkers and trailblazers. \n\nShe is an ally for equality. \n\nIn this exclusive video, the First Lady gets unapologetically outspoken.\u201d— Log Cabin Republicans (@Log Cabin Republicans) 1603996293
Then Trump makes another contentious claim, saying her husband has been a supporter of "gay marriage" (the more inclusive term is same-sex marriage, since "gay marriage" excludes bisexual and other gender minorities in same-sex marriages). Trump's support for marriage equality has been lukewarm and unclear at best. He has also appointed three conservatives to the Supreme Court with records hostile to marriage equality. With their appointments -- and the express desires of two other conservative justices -- there are enough people on the high court to rescind marriage equality should a case reach SCOTUS.
Melania Trump also touts her husband's appointment of Richard Grenell as ambassador to Germany and, later, acting national security advisor. Grenell resigned in June and has previously been accused of xenophobia and misogny. Grenell defended Donald Trump tear-gassing peaceful protesters this summer so he could have a photo op in front of a church.
Melania Trump also claims that "as the leader of the Republican Party and president of the United States, Donald has been clear that gays and lesbians have been treated as he has always treated them, equally."
Trump's record does not align with his wife's claim. Here is a list of some of Trump's antigay actions in office, including supporting "religious freedom" at the expense of queer rights as well as various legal actions that attempted to strip LGBTQ+ people of their rights. He also worked to undercount LGBTQ+ people in the Census and allow health care professionals and social workers to discriminate against them. Under the LGBTQ+ umbrella, Trump's administration has repeatedly demonized transgender people, and he banned them from the military in one of his first actions as president.
Melania Trump then returns to her victimhood narrative claiming groups like the Log Cabin Republicans have been "silenced, censored and bullied by cancel culture mobs. ... We condemn those who bully and intimidate people."
Donald Trump refers to cuurent Democratic presidential nominee as "Sleepy Joe," former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton as "Crooked Hillary," and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as "Crazy Nancy." He's denigrated nearly anyone who stood up to him, including numerous Republicans and military heroes, who he allegedly called "suckers and losers."
Melania Trump is also a "birther" who repeated racist lies her husband spread about President Obama being born outside the United States. She was also recorded saying she defended Trump's policy of separating migrant and refugee children from their parents.
