Overrules ban on transgender Miss Universe contestant

Amid public pressure, Trump overruled the Miss Universe Organization's disqualification of Jenna Talackova, a Canadian transgender contestant, stating, "We are happy to have her." The decision marked a rare moment of alignment with LGBTQ advocates, though Trump framed it as a personal act of benevolence and later emphasized that he made the decision to avoid a lawsuit.

"We are happy to have her." — Statement regarding Jenna Talackova's reinstatement to the Miss Universe pageant, April 4, 2012