Trump Answers 'Is Ayatollah Jr. Gay?' Question on Fox News

The president's response to the question about Iran's new supreme leader amused co-host Greg Gutfeld.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 12:22pm

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During a call-in interview on Fox News' 'The Five,' President Donald Trump was asked by host Jesse Watters if the CIA had told him that Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was gay. Trump's response, which acknowledged the rumors, caused co-host Greg Gutfeld to crack up and start signaling to someone off-camera.

Why it matters

The exchange highlights the Trump administration's willingness to directly address sensitive topics, even those related to the personal lives of foreign leaders. It also touches on the broader issue of homosexuality and tolerance in Islamic countries, which is sometimes overlooked by those seeking to ally with Muslim activists and officials.

The details

In the footage, Watters asks Trump about the new supreme leader of Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded his father as ayatollah after the latter was killed last month. Watters then asks Trump, 'Did the CIA tell you that Ayatollah Jr.'s gay?' Trump replies, 'Well they did say that... which puts him off to a bad start in that particular country.' Gutfeld starts cracking up and motioning to a cameraman, while co-host Dana Perino does not react.

  • The interview took place on March 26, 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

The President of the United States.

Jesse Watters

The host of 'The Five' on Fox News who interviewed President Trump.

Greg Gutfeld

A co-host of 'The Five' on Fox News who reacted with amusement to Trump's response.

Dana Perino

A co-host of 'The Five' on Fox News who did not react to Trump's response.

Mojtaba Khamenei

The new supreme leader of Iran who succeeded his father as ayatollah.

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What they’re saying

“Did the CIA tell you that Ayatollah Jr.'s gay?”

— Jesse Watters, Host, 'The Five'

“Well they did say that... which puts him off to a bad start in that particular country.”

— Donald Trump, President of the United States

The takeaway

This exchange highlights the Trump administration's willingness to directly address sensitive topics, even those related to the personal lives of foreign leaders. It also touches on the broader issue of homosexuality and tolerance in Islamic countries, which is sometimes overlooked by those seeking to ally with Muslim activists and officials.