Tiffany Trump botches saying LGBTQ at 'Pride’ rally and insists father supports community

Speaking at a “Trump Pride” event in Tampa, Florida, at the weekend, Tiffany Trump said that her father can sound “hardcore” or “just honest” but insisted he supports the LGBTQ+ community.

Donald Trump’s youngest daughter, from his second marriage, claimed her father does not support the community  "for politics”, but rather he always has. She also said he had not allowed his views to be swayed by the Republican establishment.

Ms Trump hit out at what she called “fabricated lies” surrounding her father’s record and presidency.

The Trump Pride group and events have provoked controversy online with critics of the president pointing out the Trump administration’s attempts to roll back certain protections for LGBTQ+ Americans.  

Early in her remarks, Ms Trump said that “prior to politics, he supported gays, lesbians, the L-G-B-Q-I-I-A-plus community”, botching the initialism for groups covered under the traditional umbrella of Pride.

The absence of the T for trans did not go unnoticed — whether on purpose or a gaffe — and drew ridicule, with one meme referring to “iffany rump”.

The Trump administration has been especially hostile to the trans community, including introducing a ban on trans people serving in the military.

Trump Pride describes itself as a “diverse coalition dedicated to re-electing President Trump”. The group’s website cites Trump’s support for marriage equality, his plan to end the HIV epidemic, and his campaign to decriminalise homosexuality in the 69 countries where it is illegal.

The gathering was hosted by Trump Pride co-chair Richard Grenell, the former US ambassador to Germany and acting director of national intelligence, who is openly gay.

His temporary appointment as DNI earlier this year made him the first-ever out gay man to serve in the US cabinet.

Marla Maples, Tiffany’s mother, was also at the event and waved to the crowd to whoops and cheers.

At an earlier Trump Pride event in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, Lara Trump, the president’s daughter-in-law accused Democrats of attempting voter fraud, even going as far as to say that dead cats are getting ballots.

That event drew criticism for failing to mention the words “LGBTQ” or “gay” on its invitation. Neither event appeared to be listed on the main campaign website, which is searchable by other minority and special interest groups.

The last-minute pitch to right-leaning LGBTQ individuals by the Trump campaign in two swing states comes as a survey by GLAAD finds 76 per cent of the community supports Joe Biden.

Only 17 per cent said they planned to vote for Trump, while five per cent of LGBTQ likely voters planned to cast their ballot for another candidate, and two per cent remain unsure.

GLAAD’s Trump Accountability Project has documented 181 attacks on the LGBTQ community by the administration since Trump took office.

These include the transgender military ban, “religious freedom” policies that allow companies with federal contracts to discriminate against individuals, and the withdrawal of guidance on the equal treatment of trans students in public schools.

The appointment of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court places federal recognition of marriage equality in jeopardy and could have a lasting effect on employment law.