News (USA)

Sailors were told to ‘clap like you’re at a strip club’ for Mike Pence

Mike Pence with applauding servicemembers behind him
Photo: WTKR-TV/Video Screenshot

Sailors in the U.S. Navy were instructed to cheer “like we’re at a strip club” for Mike Pence at a speech earlier this week.

Pence delivered a speech to sailors as the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman was docked at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia.

Journalist Brendan Ponton of WTKR-TV in Norfolk was at the event, and he tweeted a pre-speech detail: the sailors were instructed to “clap like we’re at a strip club.”

A straight strip club, one would assume.

Related: Mike Pence says Pete Buttigieg is attacking his ‘Christian faith’ by bringing up his homophobia

Local media coverage of the speech – which focused on the Trump administration’s recommendation to Congress not to retire the boat early – showed sailors smiling and clapping for Pence.

It is ironic that sailors were told to pretend they were in a strip club as they were about to see someone who refuses to be alone in the same room as a woman, but it’s important to note that they were told to make Pence look good in front of the media to support a policy goal, while in uniform.

Don't forget to share:

Support vital LGBTQ+ journalism

Reader contributions help keep LGBTQ Nation free, so that queer people get the news they need, with stories that mainstream media often leaves out. Can you contribute today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated

Mayor Pete is going to hell whether he’s a top or bottom, Christian pundit says

Previous article

Trump admin issues rule that gives healthcare workers right to discriminate against LGBTQ people

Next article