Donald Trump Jr is once again doing what he does best—running his mouth. This time, he’s accusing the transgender community of being “the most violent domestic terror threat” in the U.S., a claim made just after a far-right pastor with MAGA leanings was arrested for allegedly murdering a Democratic lawmaker and her husband.
The timing? Impeccably bad. The suspect, 57-year-old Evangelical preacher Vance Boelter, is accused of gunning down Minnesota Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and wounding State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette. Prosecutors say this was no random act—it was targeted political violence. And yet, Trump Jr thought it appropriate to deflect attention from the alleged murderer’s extremist ideology by pivoting to a baseless smear on trans people.
A Disturbing Deflection
In a chat with right-wing commentator Benny Johnson, Trump Jr claimed that trans folks, “per capita,” are the most violent group in America—no, really. “Probably the entire world,” he added for flair. The quote, soaked in ignorance and prejudice, came despite the fact that trans people make up just 0.6% of the U.S. population and have never statistically posed a disproportionate violent threat.
Let’s be clear: the real numbers tell a different story. According to mass shooting databases, men (mostly cisgender) make up 97% of mass shooters. Trans people? They’d statistically account for one. And yet, conservatives cite the same three isolated cases over and over, hoping repetition will make the lie stick.
What’s worse is how these narratives feed public paranoia. Misinformation like this—broadcast by figures with massive platforms—makes the daily lives of queer and trans people more dangerous. Every lie told by someone like Trump Jr translates into more threats, more harassment, and more fear.
A Dangerous Echo Chamber
This isn’t Trump Jr’s first transphobic rodeo. In early 2024, he reposted a Libs of TikTok rant falsely claiming trans people are responsible for a rising tide of mass violence. “Is there a more violent group anywhere in the world?” he asked. Yes, Donald. Probably the group that’s committing actual political assassinations.
Meanwhile, Boelter’s own background paints a chilling picture. A Trump supporter who once gave an anti-LGBTQ+ sermon, Boelter now faces six federal charges, including murder and stalking. If convicted, he could face the death penalty. A judge set his bail at $5 million.
Yet somehow, in the warped world of MAGA politics, it’s the transgender community—not the armed, radicalized extremists—who are being labeled the threat.
The LGBTQ+ Response
Let’s call this what it is: scapegoating. The LGBTQ+ community, particularly trans people, are under siege not from within but from outside forces who use them as cultural punching bags to deflect from their own dirty laundry. Trump Jr’s comments aren’t just ignorant—they’re dangerous.
Every time a political figure spreads these conspiracies, it legitimizes hate. It empowers fringe radicals. And it makes it harder for queer and trans people to live safely, freely, and with dignity.
No matter how loud the MAGA machine screams, the facts remain: we are not the threat. We are the ones constantly under threat. And no amount of bluster from Trump Jr will change that reality.