The New Yorker: Trump Joked Pence Wants To "Hang" All The Gays

Vice President Mike Pence, President Donald Trump

According to a lengthy profile of Vice President Mike Pence in The New Yorker, Donald Trump apparently "joked" that Vice President Mike Pence “wants to hang” all gay people.

“Trump thinks Pence is great,” Bannon told me. But, according to a longtime associate, Trump also likes to “let Pence know who’s boss.”

A staff member from Trump’s campaign recalls him mocking Pence’s religiosity. He said that, when people met with Trump after stopping by Pence’s office, Trump would ask them, “Did Mike make you pray?”

Two sources also recalled Trump needling Pence about his views on abortion and homosexuality. During a meeting with a legal scholar, Trump belittled Pence’s determination to overturn Roe v. Wade. The legal scholar had said that, if the Supreme Court did so, many states would likely legalize abortion on their own. “You see?” Trump asked Pence. “You’ve wasted all this time and energy on it, and it’s not going to end abortion anyway.”

When the conversation turned to gay rights, Trump motioned toward Pence and joked, “Don’t ask that guy—he wants to hang them all!”

Pence’s views on LGBT rights have been a threat to the community for years.

As Indiana governor, he signed into law the virulently anti-LGBT Religious Freedom Restoration Act in 2015, which essentially legalized discrimination against gay people. The legislation created a huge backlash against the state and Pence.

Additionally, Pence has publicly supported so-called gay conversion therapy and has been named “one of the most anti-LGBT politicians out there.”