U.S. congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has said it is possible that the United States has already had a gay president, questioning common assumptions about the nation’s political past.
Speaking with reporters on Capitol Hill, she responded to a question about whether the country would first elect a woman or an openly gay president by challenging the premise, noting it assumes no former president may have had same-sex attraction.
Although she did not mention any specific names, her comments align with long-standing discussions about Abraham Lincoln. Some historians have referenced Lincoln’s close bond with Joshua Speed in debates about his personal life.
The subject has also been explored in works like Lover of Men: The Untold History of Abraham Lincoln, which examines claims surrounding Lincoln’s relationships and sexuality. The film’s director, Shaun Peterson, has argued that certain historical evidence points to relationships that may have gone beyond friendship—though this view remains contested among scholars.
Ocasio-Cortez’s remarks reflect wider conversations about representation in politics and how historical figures are interpreted. She also emphasized that multiple factors—not just gender or sexuality—will shape who becomes a future U.S. president.