Trump confirms CIA told him Iran’s new supreme leader is gay

Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief

A woman holds a portrait of Iran's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei as people march in support of the Iranian armed forces in central Tehran on March 25, 2026. (AFP)
A woman holds a portrait of Iran's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei as people march in support of the Iranian armed forces in central Tehran on March 25, 2026. (AFP)

US President Donald Trump confirms having received a Central Intelligence Agency briefing informing him that Iran’s new ayatollah, Mojtaba Khamenei is gay.

The New York Post first made the revelation on March 16, reporting that the CIA believes Khamenei’s since-slayed father Ali feared his son’s sexuality made him unsuitable to replace him as supreme leader.

Trump was reportedly tickled by the CIA assessment that the younger Khamenei had been having a long-term sexual relationship with his male childhood tutor.

Asked in a Fox News interview whether the CIA had indeed told him that Khamenei is gay, Trump responds, “They did say that, but I don’t know if it was only them. I think a lot of people are saying that, which puts [Khamenei] off to a bad start in that particular country.

Trump then appears to swiftly pivot to criticizing feminist and queer supporters of Palestinians.

“I sort of have to smile to myself when I see people trying to defend the Palestinian regime for women — women for Palestine. But they kill women if you don’t… wear certain cloth all over your face,” Trump says.

“When I look at ‘Gays for Palestine,’ but they kill gays… and I’m saying, who are the ‘Gays for Palestine,” Trump says.

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