Donald Trump has never been subtle when it comes to his disdain for the LGBTQ+ community, but his latest move—sharing an image of the Nazi-era Pink Triangle—has sent chills down the spines of queer Americans. Whether it was ignorance or something more sinister, the act sparked immediate backlash.
On March 9, Trump posted an article on Truth Social featuring a downward-pointing Pink Triangle with a prohibition sign slapped over it. To those unfamiliar with queer history, the Pink Triangle was originally used in Nazi concentration camps to label gay men, many of whom were tortured, experimented on, and executed. The symbol was later reclaimed by activists during the AIDS crisis, becoming an emblem of resistance and remembrance.
While the article Trump shared focused on his administration’s overhaul of military recruitment—moving away from inclusion and back to a hyper-masculine, “lethality-first” approach—its featured image spoke volumes. Whether or not Trump understood the historical weight of the symbol, its use in this context is, at best, wildly inappropriate and, at worst, deeply intentional.
Trump’s latest executive orders have already placed LGBTQ+ rights on the chopping block. Within weeks of returning to office, he banned trans individuals from serving in the military, axed diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and implemented policies defining gender strictly as male or female. And now, with the sharing of Nazi-era imagery, the message to LGBTQ+ Americans couldn’t be clearer: You are not welcome here.
The move follows a growing trend of far-right rhetoric creeping back into the mainstream, with Trump-aligned figures like Elon Musk openly downplaying accusations of Nazi sympathies. Just months ago, Musk found himself in hot water after appearing to give a Nazi salute at a Trump rally, only to brush it off on X (formerly Twitter) with a yawning emoji.
The LGBTQ+ community has every reason to be alarmed. When those in power start amplifying the symbols of past oppression—whether knowingly or not—it’s a warning sign. The Pink Triangle is a painful reminder of where hate can lead. For queer Americans watching Trump’s second term unfold, the writing is on the wall.