After speculation about how much of a role former First Lady Melania Trump will play in her husband’s third campaign for the White House, it appears that she’ll soon attend a fundraiser for an LGBTQ group.
POLITICO first reported that former President Donald Trump was involved with an April 20 event for the Log Cabin Republicans – a conservative LGBTQ group – at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. CNN reported Friday that Melania would appear at the fundraiser.
Log Cabin Republicans have a history going back to the 1970s. According to the group’s website, “LGBT Republicans and straight allies have chosen to transform the GOP from the inside, working to overcome the forces of exclusion and intolerance,” and it takes its name from Republican President Abraham Lincoln, who was born in a log cabin.
Melania has attended at least one event for the group in the past. In 2021, it honored her with its “Spirit of Lincoln” Award.
“Melania Trump’s work as First Lady, from helping children reach their full potential to championing a more inclusive Republican Party, has been historic,” said Log Cabin Republicans Managing Director Charles Moran at the time. “Her vocal support of Log Cabin Republicans has been a signal to Republicans everywhere that it is possible to simultaneously be conservative and support equality under the law for all Americans.”
However, LGBTQ issues are not always supported by GOP politicians. Trump’s former Republican primary challenger, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, for example. He made national headlines with his “Don’t Say Gay” legislation aimed at LGBTQ-related material taught at schools.
Trump’s own campaign even slammed President Joe Biden’s Transgender Day of Visibility announcement last month because it fell on the same day as Easter. As of last summer, Gallup polling found that support for same-sex marriage in the U.S. was at 71%, but that just 49% of Republicans and 41% of weekly churchgoers supported it.
Jenna Ellis, an attorney who previously served as legal counsel for Trump, criticized Melania’s expected attendance at the Log Cabin event in a Saturday X post. She said: “Melania’s first campaign fundraiser is a pro-LGBTQ Republican event. This is an example of something Trump is doing that zero Christians can support. Even if you vote for him, which of course you should over Biden, Christ followers cannot support this.”
“While we’re busy building bridges, @jennaellisesq seems content burning them down,” said the Log Cabin Republicans in response. CNN said that the April 20 event is expected to be largely behind closed doors.
