Washington D.C. – In a statement that shocked the media and the LGBTQ+ community, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt officially confirmed that the Trump administration will not recognize June as “Pride Month” and will not approve any federal funding for related festivals or events.

From 'Worse than Spicer' to 'Born to do this,' pundits weigh in on Karoline Leavitt's debut | The Independent

❝It’s not reasonable to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on 7% of the population❞

Speaking at a White House press briefing, Karoline Leavitt made clear President Donald Trump’s stance:

“President Trump sees no reason to spend $200 million in federal funds on festivals and parades for a community that makes up less than 7% of the population. We believe that money should be invested in addressing more pressing issues – like homelessness among America’s veterans.”

The announcement comes as many states and major cities across the country are gearing up to kick off Pride Month activities throughout June, with funding and coordination from local and federal governments.

🎯 A policy shift – and a clear political message
The move from the Trump administration – while controversial – is not without precedent. During his first term, Trump was criticized for not issuing a presidential proclamation recognizing Pride Month as previous presidents, including Republicans like George W. Bush.

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However, this is the first time the White House has officially denounced Pride Month and announced its refusal to fund it at the federal level, creating a backlash from LGBTQ+ organizations, Democratic politicians and social activists.

Immediately after the announcement, hashtags like #DefendPride, #TrumpHatesLGBTQ, and #VeteransOverPride began to appear on social media, reflecting the deep divisions in public opinion:

Trump supporters said the decision showed a practical and correct priority, as the White House chose to invest in long-standing issues like veterans instead of “chasing political symbols”.

LGBTQ+ activists called it a “disdain for human rights” and “a message of discrimination disguised as finance”.

According to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, the total cost of federally funded Pride events ranges from only $15 to $30 million per year, depending on the size of each state and city. The $200 million figure that Leavitt mentioned has not been specifically verified, causing many to doubt the accuracy of the statement.

Political analysts say the move is part of a strategy to “assert core conservative identity” for the 2024 re-election campaign, as Trump seeks to consolidate support among religious, traditional and “America First” voters.

The rejection of Pride Month is also a way for Trump to tap into voter groups who feel “forced to wake up” to new cultural values ​​they disagree with.

Karoline Leavitt’s statement has once again thrust the Trump administration into the center of a public firestorm. While it makes sense politically, the move also raises the question: Does rejecting a symbolic month actually make America more equitable and united—or just deepen cultural rifts that have persisted for years?