Jonathan Van Ness Calls Trump Ad Cameo ‘Iconic’ Yet ‘Unsettling’
“Queer Eye” star Jonathan Van Ness appears unnerved by the fact they were used as fodder for a right-wing election ad.
The reality star, who is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, said in a Monday Instagram post that they were mildly amused but mostly disturbed to see themselves in a Republican PAC ad denouncing Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.
The ad features footage of Van Ness with Harris and drag queen Pattie Gonia proclaiming that “Crazy liberal Kamala is for they/them” while “President Trump is for you.”
Sharing a close-up selfie with their reaction, Van Ness said it was “surreal” to pop up in the campaign commercial, which they described as a mix of “iconic” and “mostly very unsettling.”
“In this commercial, Trump vilified immigrants, trans people, and queer people generally,” explained the hair and beauty expert, who came out as non-binary in 2019.
They went on to warn followers not to “think that these white nationalist Christian politicians aren’t a threat to you and vote like it.”
Detailing why they are supporting Harris in the caption, Van Ness wrote, “As a non-binary person, whenever I’m presented with a binary choice, I’m immediately leery. But in this election, it’s really about moving forward in all the messy imperfection and trying to trust each other again.”
Contrasting the Republicans’ approach, the Netflix personality said conservatives are set on “going backwards to a time where women needed their husband to open a checking account and where segregation was also a matter of ‘states rights.’”
Van Ness then knocked Trump as “an authoritarian dictator who has absolute immunity from the Supreme court.”
“Please choose hope over fear. Faith over blame,” the star concluded, adding, “Love y’all.”
Van Ness endorsed Harris in July after President Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race.
Posting to Facebook, they said at the time, “I believe Vice President Harris will be President Harris! She has what it takes to lead an America that is safe, prosperous, and equitable for all!”