Trump appears unaware of push to decriminalise homosexuality globally

Feb 21 2019
Written by Sofia Lotto Persio

Combined picture of President Trump and US ambassador Richard Allen Grenell, who is reportedly leading a push to decriminalise homosexuality around the world.

President Donald Trump (L) appeared to be unaware his ambassador Richard Allen Grenell (R) reportedly plans a push to decriminalise homosexuality. (Win McNamee/Getty; Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty)

President Donald Trump was unable to answer a question about his administration’s push to decriminalise homosexuality around the world.

Trump was asked by a journalist to comment on an NBC News report that his openly gay ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, is pushing to decriminalise homosexuality around the world.

The exchange was caught on camera and reported in the official transcript of the exchange with the media ahead of the president’s meeting with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz at the White House on Wednesday (February 20).

“Government officials must work harder to demand that UN Members decriminalise homosexuality.”

— Richard Grenell

“Mr. President, on your push to decriminalise homosexuality, are you doing that? And why?” the journalist asked.

Trump asked the journalist to repeat the question.

“Your push to decriminalise homosexuality around the world,” the journalist clarified.

Trump answered: “I don’t know which report you’re talking about. We have many reports.”

US Ambassador Richard Grenell gets in his car after an accreditation ceremony for new Ambassadors in Berlin, Germany, on May 08, 2018.

US Ambassador Richard Grenell is reportedly expected to visit the White House this week. (Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty)

He then swiftly moved on. “Anybody else?” he asked, taking on more questions. No one else asked him to clarify whether he had any conversation with Grenell.

According to NBC, the US embassy in Germany flew in LGBT+ campaigners from across Europe for a “strategy dinner” on Tuesday (February 19) to plan the push for decriminalisation of homosexuality, mainly in countries in Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean.

An embassy spokesperson told PinkNews the LGBT+ activists came from countries including Turkey, Lithuania, Ukraine, Estonia, France among others. Stuart Milk of the Milk Foundation was also in attendance of the dinner, hosted by Ambassador Grenell.

“The White House and State Department are aware of and back the initiative, which is specifically aimed at decriminalising LGBTI status and activity in the 71 countries where it is illegal,” the spokesperson added.

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