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Donald Trump’s Comments on Transgender People From 10 Years Ago Shock Viewers

From immigration to gender equality, Donald Trump has built his brand on being conservative in his political views. It’s no wonder, then, that an old video circulating on social media has shocked fans, as it shows the US President voicing a very different opinion on transgender people.

President Trump once said trans people should “use the bathroom that they feel is appropriate”

@pinknews

A resurfaced interview from 21 April 2016 shows Donald Trump telling NBC’s ‘The Today Show’ that transgender people should be able to “use the bathroom that they feel is appropriate,” adding that Caitlyn Jenner would be welcome to use any restroom at Trump Tower. At the time, the comments came amid national debate over North Carolina’s controversial “bathroom bill,” with Trump suggesting the issue had been largely unproblematic before new restrictions were introduced. The “Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act,” was signed into law in North Carolina in March 2016. It required transgender individuals to use public bathrooms corresponding to the s** on their birth certificate rather than their gender identity, while also voiding local anti-discrimination ordinances. The bill was repealed in March, one year later, after intense pressure. A decade later, the landscape for trans rights in the United States looks markedly different. Numerous states have enacted or proposed laws restricting access to bathrooms, healthcare, sports participation, and legal recognition for transgender people. What was once framed by Trump in 2016 as a non-issue has since become a political wedge issue that Trump himself, alongside his administration, has continued to focus on. #DonaldTrump #transgender #CaitlynJenner #USPolitics #LGBTQIA

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The clip, posted by Pink News, is from April 2016 and was originally aired on NBC’s Today Show at the time. In it, Trump speaks about the rights of transgender people … and his stance is very different to the one he has today.

“People use the bathroom that they feel is appropriate,” the president said to the crowd in the video. “There has been so little trouble,” he added.

To that, a person in the crowd asked: “If Caitlyn Jenner were to walk into Trump Tower and want to use the bathroom, you would be fine with her using any bathroom that she chooses?”

“That is correct,” Trump replied without even a moment’s hesitation.

Given that, on his first day back in office in January 2025, the president signed an executive order defining “sex” as only male or female, based on biology, these recently resurfaced comments have surprised social media users.

“What is happening?” one confused person said. “I wonder what happened??” asked another.

Elsewhere in the comments section, some people couldn’t believe what they saw. “Is this clip edited?” someone asked. “Is this AI?” queried another person.

Other people took a more critical view of the situation. “Trump will say whatever he needs to say to stay in power,” someone suggested. “I think Trump just plays whatever politics will get him elected,” another added. A third agreed, with: “Trump is an opportunist.”

TELL US – HOW DID YOU REACT TO TRUMP’S COMMENTS IN THE NEWLY RESURFACED VIDEO?

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