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President Donald Trump awarded far-Right radio host Rush Limbaugh the Presidential Medal of Freedom at his State of the Union address earlier this month.
Days later, Limbaugh made even more headlines when he scoffed at the idea that gay South Bend, Indiana Mayor and 2020 presidential contender Pete Buttigieg would kiss his husband on a debate stage next to "Mr. Man" Donald Trump.
Despite massive outcry against the homophobic remarks, Limbaugh has yet to apologize.
Now, we know why.
In a moment shared by Media Matters, Limbaugh said Trump himself called to urge him not to apologize for his comments about Buttigieg.
Limbaugh said he wasn't aware of the backlash caused by his comments, before adding:
"Hell, the president even called me about this. The president checks in every now and then to see how I'm doing. He's such a nice guy. And he called...he said 'Rush, I just got to tell you something. Never apologize, don't ever—' and I said, 'For what?' Well, I had no idea this thing had even bubbled up, you know? I'm doing the medical thing that I have to do here. And I wasn't even aware of this."
Trump was giving Limbaugh a piece of advice Trump has followed his whole life. Despite his numerous missteps and scandals, Trump has almost never apologized.
In a 2015 appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Trump said:
"I think apologizing's a great thing, but you have to be wrong. I will absolutely apologize, sometime in the hopefully distant future, if I'm ever wrong."
People weren't exactly surprised to hear of Trump's advice to Limbaugh.
@mmfa You see Trump understands that his base is by nature homophobic but he himself can’t be outwardly disdainful… https://t.co/DswH18sgmR— Tuesday’s Child (@Tuesday’s Child) 1582047048.0
@mmfa Demagogue Don knows how to stir up that hate in his Evangelical base. Stir it up, good. Trump is a mirror.— Susan Rockwell (@Susan Rockwell) 1582047055.0
Because...of course. https://t.co/Gxsv9vB6M0— David Corn (@David Corn) 1582046914.0
Of course, once again nothing surprises me about the current administration of their cult of followers. https://t.co/bdb2Amdw8i— Gene Bannister (@Gene Bannister) 1582049037.0
@mmfa @pete_potus2020 He said don’t apologize also because trump thinks apologizing for anything makes someone look… https://t.co/mxCk7A5HPN— Mark Hardin NC_4Pete2020 (@Mark Hardin NC_4Pete2020) 1582049584.0
Well, duh, homophobes have to stick together. https://t.co/LPpdROrlQN— JT in Texas (@JT in Texas) 1582048883.0
Trump endorses Rush Limbaugh's homophobic attacks on @PeteButtigieg, per Rush himself. Trump's gaslighting about hi… https://t.co/r7ouqscPGB— Aaron Fritschner (@Aaron Fritschner) 1582047178.0
Trump's supporters like to claim that he's the most pro-LGBTQ President in history, though his administration's record doesn't support this. At all.