Gay Fundraisers Flipped to Trump Because Clinton Didn't Pose for a Picture, Spokesman Says
A gay political power couple has explained to The New York Times why they have defected from the Democratic Party to support President Donald Trump, sparking a disagreement with the Hillary Clinton camp.
Husbands Bill White and Bryan Eure have spent tens of thousands of dollars supporting Trump, and will throw a $5 million fundraiser this winter for his 2020 re-election bid. They bragged that they have the president's son's numbers on speed dial, and they are proud of their framed photos of themselves with Trump and other conservative notables.
Eure with Donald Trump, Jr. and Wayne Newton at a going away party in New York City for Ambassador Richard Grenell.
Quite the turnaround from their days hosting former President Barack Obama at a fundraiser dinner in their Chelsea townhouse, or their time backing Clinton's two presidential campaigns.
White claimed he likes that Trump, the highest ranking politician in the country, is "not a politician," and praised his "authenticity."
The pair said they intended to keep fighting for gay rights, despite their support of a candidate who has rolled back LGBTQ rights.
"I don't like identity politics," was all Eure was able to utter in defense when called on that fact.
Meanwhile, White dismissed Trump's constant lies as "exaggerations."
As the profile progresses, it becomes apparent power and celebrity are more important to the couple than policy.
In fact, they split from the Clinton camp only when it was clear she had lost, leaving the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan, where Clinton's election night event was held, to celebrate across town with Trump. With friends like these...
White and Eure with Felicia Taylor, Terry Allen Kramer, and former New York Governor George Pataki.
This was preceded by feeling slighted when the married couple say they were blocked from taking a picture with Clinton because they hadn't written a $25,000 check during the closing stretch of the campaign. Clinton's team had a different story to tell, disputing the couple's recollection of events.
"Some people give their time and resources to causes and candidates for the right reasons, some don’t," Clinton spokesman Nick Merrill said. "No better indication of which case this is than to watch a guy decide to embrace Trump and all he stands for because he couldn’t get his picture taken one night."
"They ran to the other end of the spectrum and then walked off the ledge," he added. "This president is degrading our institutions. He is racist, he has no respect for women, he has no respect for minorities or for any community, including the LGBT community—it makes you wonder."
"Our democracy has been set on fire by this president, and they want what, an invite to Mar-a-Lago?"
Oh yeah, and there was the time earlier this year, at Ralph Lauren’s Polo Bar in Midtown Manhattan, when White saw Chelsea Clinton across the dining room and was offended that she didn't acknowledge him. So, he called his new friend Trump, Jr., who, according to White, offered to rush right over and make him feel better.
"Trump picks up on the first ring. If you want to get to Chelsea Clinton, you have to call through five people," White added.
Messy.