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Eric Trump is not gay, but here's why the Internet thought he was 'part of the' LGBTQIA+ community

On Tuesday’s episode of ‘Fox and Friends', after Eric Trump said 'I’m part of that community,' many from the LGBTQIA+ community 'rejected his application'

On Tuesday, September 29, several people were briefly under the impression that Eric Trump was part of the LGBTQIA+ community. “Eric Trump coming out is not the birthday gift this homosexual wanted,” wrote a Twitter user. Another wrote, “Eric Trump is f***ing a**hole who steals money from kids with cancer. Don’t really care if he is gay or straight.” Another Twitter user said, “As a gay man, the thought of Eric Trump being part of our community makes me gag... and nothing makes me gag.”

Why was Twitter under the impression that Donald Trump’s second son was part of the LGBTQIA+ community? Well, Eric was responsible for this. On Tuesday’s episode of ‘Fox and Friends', host Ainsley Earhardt questioned Eric about LGBTQ+ people supporting his father in the presidential election. Earhardt said that she read a story of a lesbian woman who said that she supported Trump's 2020 campaign, before asking his son, Eric, about that supporter base. “There are a lot of people that might be voting for your dad that might be admitting it. So are you counting on this person? The 'secret voter?'” she asked.

Eric’s answer was a weird one: “I’m telling you, I see it every day, the LGBT community, they are incredible and you should see how they’ve come out in full force for my father every single day. I’m part of that community and we love the man and thank you for protecting our neighborhoods and thank you for protecting our cities.”

Unsurprisingly, many on Twitter took “I’m part of that community” as Eric coming out on national television. And several people, especially those under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella, seemed queasy about the idea. One Twitter user said, “Either Eric Trump was high off sniffing glue or he just came out as gay on Fox News. If it’s the latter, he’s done the impossible by making the LGBTQ community reconsider their stance on conversion therapy.” Another said, “We, the gay committee, have had an emergency meeting and we have rejected Eric Trump's application.” Another Twitter user said, “Eric Trump is gay? That was not on my Bingo-Card.”

Soon enough, Twitter was filled with “We reject Eric’s application” jokes. Like one Twitter user who wrote, “Eric Trump could make anyone vomit within five seconds. We in the LGBTQ community reject his application.” Another Twitter user wrote, “As part of the LGBTQ+ community I reject Eric Trump into the community.” Another similarly wrote, “Eric Trump saying he’s part of the LGBT community is not what I had on my mood board today. I hear it. I reject it. I’m moving forward.”

Of course, Eric later clarified that he was, in fact, not coming out on national television. Speaking to The New York Post, Eric said, “To clarify, many of our close friends are part of the LGBT community, which was the intent of my statement -- the left has taken that vote for granted for a long time and support from the gay community for my father is incredible.” 

“As to me personally, as I think you know, I am a happily married man to my wife, Lara,” he added, referring to Trump campaign adviser Lara Trump, with whom he is married and has two children. He also said that he is not bisexual.