SOFTENING?

Trump Reaches Out to LGBT Community in RNC 2016 Speech

“As a Republican, it is so nice to hear you cheering.”

Donald Trump made a rare overture to the LGBTQ community Thursday night during his speech at the Republican National Convention. “As president, I will do everything in my power to protect LGBTQ citizens from the violence and oppression of a hateful foreign ideology,” Trump said to applause. Then he went off script: “And, I have to say, as a Republican, it is so nice to hear you cheering for what I just said.” Despite its initial positive response, Hillary Clinton’s team took to Twitter: “Your party’s official platform supports ‘conversion therapy.’” Tony Schwartz, the ghostwriter for his book The Art of the Deal, wrote on Twitter: “My stomach turns at trump defending the LGBTQ community. So entirely scripted. The Trump I know would never have said that in a million years.”

Play Video