Fact check: Did Donald Trump really wish Ron DeSantis 'Happy Pride Month' using homophobic slur?
WASHINGTON, DC: As the LGBTQ community celebrates Pride Month in June, an alleged Truth Social post by former President Donald Trump resurfaced on social media.
The latest claim is in relation to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Trump ally turned presidential opponent now backing the 45th president's third White House bid. Both have spoken out against trans rights, but an alleged social media post again resurfaced less than a week into Pride Month, according to Snopes.
Donald Trump's alleged post wishes Ron DeSantis 'Happy Pride Month'
This month, an alleged post written by the former president on his Truth Social platform insulting DeSantis with an anti-LGBTQ slur, went viral again,
"Happy PRIDE MONTH to the 'Governor' of Florida, Ron DeF*****," revealed the screenshot of the post shared on X (formerly Twitter).
The post was initially circulated on social media in June 2023, where Trump allegedly made a homophobic taunt at his then-GOP primary opponent.
While some shared the purported screenshots this year on X, others wrote the exact text without the alleged Truth Social screenshot.
When this post first became viral in 2023, both Trump and DeSantis were running for the White House.
Donald Trump did not make homophobic remarks against Ron DeSantis
The ex-president never wished the Florida Governor "Happy Pride Month" and neither did he call him a homophobic nickname in the first place, as per Snopes and Reuters.
The screenshots shared on social media platforms, including X, were found to be fake, and Trump did not post them on his Truth Social platform.
When it was first reported that the former president made such a remark, the only Google result for the text led to iFunny, a website that archives memes on the internet. The post is not present on Trump's Truth Social profile or in any archived formats.
Since there is no evidence to prove the real estate mogul actually wrote the words in the screenshot referring to DeSantis with a homophobic nickname, the viral claim is rated "false."
Trump had often insulted the Florida Governor with the nickname "DeSanctimonious" during their GOP primary race. However, the MAGA spearhead "officially retired" it after his opponent suspended his presidential bid earlier this year, as per The Hill.
Moreover, both Republicans have reportedly reconciled, and the former candidate is planning to fundraise for the soon-to-be official nominee.
