Donald Trump shares article with crossed-out Pink Triangle—No comment given by White House

US President Donald Trump shared an opinion article on Truth Social on Sunday, which featured an upside-down pink triangle—a symbol originally used by the Nazis to identify gay men during the Holocaust and later reclaimed by the LGBTQ+ community.

Symbol featured in Washington Times article

The article, published in The Washington Times and authored by Jeremy Hunt, chairman of Veterans on Duty, criticised LGBTQ+ pride-focused military recruitment ads. The leading image in the article depicted a television screen displaying an inverted pink triangle crossed out by a red "no" symbol.

Trump shared the article without adding any comment, drawing attention to the visual element of the piece.

White House responds

When asked about Trump’s decision to share the article, White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers dismissed concerns about the image, instead emphasising Trump’s record on Jewish issues.

"No president has been a greater friend to the Jewish community and Israel than President Trump," Rogers told USA Today.

In response to questions about whether Trump was aware of the history of the pink triangle or endorsed its use in the article, Rogers pointed to Trump's previous actions:

"President Trump signed an Executive Order to combat anti-Semitism on college campuses, cut funding for colleges that allow violence against Jewish students, fulfilled his promise to deport pro-Hamas immigrants, returned American and Israeli hostages taken by terrorists to their families, and successfully negotiated a ceasefire in Gaza," Rogers stated.

Historical context of the Pink triangle

Historians and LGBTQ+ activists note that the pink triangle was originally a Nazi badge used to mark gay men in concentration camps, many of whom suffered especially brutal treatment before being executed. In later decades, the LGBTQ+ community reclaimed the symbol, turning it into an emblem of pride and activism.

Trump’s anti-DEI directives

The controversy follows Trump’s sweeping rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across federal agencies.

• Mentions of gender and the transgender community have been removed from federal websites.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has enforced Trump’s policies at the Pentagon, issuing a directive stating: "DoD ≠ DEI… no exceptions, name-changes, or delays. Those who do not comply will no longer work here."

As Trump’s administration continues eliminating DEI policies, his sharing of the article featuring the pink triangle symbol has sparked concerns over potential messaging against LGBTQ+ inclusion in the military.