WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Human Rights Campaign ( HRC ) released the following statement in response to President Donald Trump's speech this morning at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
"At the World Economic Forum, Donald Trump once again stood on the world stage to proclaim 'America First,' but his policies and rhetoric make it clear what he really means is 'Trump First.' His reckless policies trample over the rights of LGBTQ people, women, Muslims, refugees, people of color, and marginalized communities," said JoDee Winterhof, HRC Senior Vice President for Policy and Political Affairs. "Speaking before the world's leaders, Trump again refused to condemn the ongoing crackdown against LGBTQ people in Egypt, Chechnya, and elsewhere around the world. We are in desperate need of a president who will use his global platform to stand up for human rights and LGBTQ people. Lives depend on it."
In his speech, Trump claimed he wants a world in which every child can grow up free from fear, yet his administration rescinded guidance that protected transgender students — the very children who face disproportionately high rates of bullying and violence. He touted his tax scam that directly undermines millions of Americans access to health care and threatens the longevity of programs critical to the LGBTQ community. He reminded the world that he wants to break immigrant families apart and enact racist immigration systems, ending the policies that have truly made America great.
Over the past year, the world has witnessed a rising tide of attacks and state-sponsored persecution of LGBTQ people in countries around the globe, from Chechnya to Bangladesh, Indonesia, Tanzania, Azerbaijan, and Egypt. HRC and partner organizations have repeatedly called on high-level leaders in the Trump administration to condemn the human rights abuses. So far, Donald Trump and Mike Pence have remained deafeningly silent.
