'That's not funny, that's evil': Twitter reacts to Trump joking Pence 'wants to hang' all gay people
Twitter immediately erupted with anger and outrage over the reported remark.
US President Donald Trump reportedly once joked that Vice President Mike Pence "wants to hang" all gay people, but Twitter isn't laughing. According to an in-depth profile of Pence published on Monday (16 October) by The New Yorker, titled "The Danger of President Pence", Trump reportedly joked about Pence's views on LGBTQ rights and opposition to abortion during a meeting with a legal scholar.
After the legal scholar told the two leaders that many states would likely legalise abortion if the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Trump reportedly said to Pence, "You see? You've wasted all this time and energy on it, and it's not going to end abortion anyway."
When the meeting turned to focus on gay rights, Trump apparently motioned towards Pence and joked, "Don't ask that guy – he wants to hang them all!"
The piece also delved into how Trump often mocks Pence's religious beliefs and reportedly asks people who greet Trump after first meeting Pence if the vice president made them pray.
Trump and Pence have yet to comment on the report. In a statement to The Indianapolis Star, the vice president's spokeswoman Alyssa Farah said the story contained false statements.
"Articles like this are why the American people have lost so much faith in the press," Farah said in a statement to the paper. "The New Yorker piece is filled with unsubstantiated, unsourced claims that are untrue and offensive."
Twitter, on the other hand, erupted with outrage and horror over the reported joke, saying it was "far from funny."
The Human Rights Campaign called Trump's reported joke "evil", while singer Josh Groban simply tweeted, "What the f**k."
"Trump's joke about Pence wanting to hang LGBTQ people is beyond disgusting," Adam Best tweeted. "It also reveals that even Trump sees Pence's views as extremist."
Singer Jack Antonoff tweeted, "A lot of fatigue going on but Trump joking about Pence hanging gay people is beyond. Impeach."
Star Trek star George Takei wrote, "Not sure what's more disturbing, that Donald would joke about such a thing or that he would pick a man with these views as his number 2."
Referring to #LGBTQ people, Donald Trump joked Mike Pence wants to "hang them all." That's not funny, that's evil. https://t.co/n4w3iSiLyZ pic.twitter.com/0uR8klf5Ga
— HumanRightsCampaign (@HRC) October 16, 2017
Trump joked that Pence wants to hang gay people. Somehow, as with so much else, this will barely make a ripple. https://t.co/9ItD1VVmRJ pic.twitter.com/1BFIDP9VxT
— Jessica Valenti (@JessicaValenti) October 16, 2017
This is a horrific statement and should never have been said especially by the leaders of our country. I am ashamed and angered. 😡
— Barb (@mzmaxxx) October 17, 2017
Tale of two presidents...
— Tony Posnanski (@tonyposnanski) October 16, 2017
Obama joked about pardoning a turkey
Trump jokes about Mike Pence hanging all the gays
Incredibly sad pic.twitter.com/E3xi099bQf
Saying Mike Pence "wants to hang" all gay people is not:
— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) October 16, 2017
-Funny
-A joke
-Presidential
-To be ignoredhttps://t.co/02mZ2CHQ4v
This is simply incredible. Trump is not only mocking Pence, but every member of his base that sold their soul to elect him. h/t @ericgeller pic.twitter.com/4ZkdIrWfnb
— Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) October 16, 2017
Trump should be impeached immediately for “joking†& saying Pence wants to “hang†all gay people.
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) October 17, 2017
Pence should be impeached cuz it’s true.
Trump "joked" Pence wants to "hang" LGBT. Whom does it reflect worse on, Trump or Pence?
— Pé Resists (@4everNeverTrump) October 17, 2017
Trick question; it reflects worst on the country.
In 2017, we have to remind our President that it's never ok to "joke" about killing LGBTQ Americans...or anyone. @realDonaldTrump @POTUS https://t.co/LMGl63tjIi
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) October 16, 2017
This is #NotNormal. This is not normal. This is not normal. This is not normal. This is not normal. This is not normal. This is not normal. This is not normal. This is not normal. #LGBTQ https://t.co/fM8Q9FXFgs
— NCLRðŸ³ï¸â€ðŸŒˆ (@NCLRights) October 16, 2017
Trump said that Mike Pence wants to “hang them all.†All gay people. Are we snowflakes for not wanting to be led by men who want to kill us? https://t.co/JSWLlmCiPQ
— Glennon Doyle (@GlennonDoyle) October 16, 2017
Making jokes about how his VP HATES the LGBTQ community!? Not funny. Terrible leadership. A President should know better. Shame on you. https://t.co/bQZhIW3Z90
— ADAM LAMBERT (@adamlambert) October 16, 2017
2017: POTUS Trump is joking how his VP Pence wants to hang gay Americans.
— Patrick Ryan (@thepatrickryan_) October 17, 2017
I am not sure who is laughing but I'm not.
We deserve better.
I’ll never forget the fact that they didn’t ask a single question about gay rights during the VP debate.
— emily nussboo (@emilynussbaum) October 16, 2017
This is no laughing matter. Neither Trump nor Pence are worthy of the offices they hold. pic.twitter.com/OsNQOVSj5A
— Sheila Roberts (@SROBERTS101A) October 16, 2017
Only correction I would make is that it sounds EXACTLY like genocide.
— Jared Cram (@JSCram3254) October 16, 2017
Odd statement about a "pro" life vice president
— Colleen Kessler (@xocolleenxoxo) October 16, 2017
When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time. - Maya Angelou
— Dirk Blocker (@DirkBlocker) October 16, 2017
Pence and Trump are both depraved individuals. This isn’t funny, it’s horrifying.
— Collier (@CMusic10) October 16, 2017
Every time I think we can't sink any lower. This is appalling
— Anuradha Koli (@StarryAnna) October 16, 2017
Just when you think your jaw can’t drop any further... pic.twitter.com/5hLYBVNT6Y
— Leesa Walker (@leesawalker) October 16, 2017
Sarah Sanders tomorrow “it was just a joke..â€..
— DJ Tintin (@tintinthedj) October 16, 2017
What do we say? Stunning? Heinous? Reprehensible? This is a great country, but this is an indescribably awful man. #Resist #ImpeachTrump
— Carol Ann Kalish (@CAKalish) October 16, 2017
They both are truly sick individuals.
— Jean Harlow (@JodiDav84512111) October 16, 2017
Mike Pence scares the crap out of me. Trump is a garbage opportunist but I think Pence believes every terrible thing he claims to believe.
— Alex Trimboli (@Nicole_Cliffe) October 16, 2017
Thing I’m most looking forward to this week is Mike Pence responding to whether he wants to hang all gay people.
— Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) October 16, 2017
Hey @realDonaldTrump, considering Pence is an advocate of electroshock “therapy†for LGBTQ youth, nothing about that “joke†is funny. https://t.co/AU4tPbcR7h
— Calvin (@calvinstowell) October 16, 2017
So far this week Trump has:
— Amy Rhodes (@iamamyrhodes) October 17, 2017
Lied about Obama. Twice.
Joked Pence wants to hang gays.
Blamed Puerto Rico for not having water.
It's Monday.
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