Grindr is on the political rise

Grindr, the LGBTQ+ dating app, has significantly expanded its political presence in Washington and California since President Donald Trump's return to office. The app has poured $1.6 million into its influence operation since April 2025, with $432,500 spent in the first three months of 2026 alone. Grindr's lobbying efforts, led by registered Republican Joe Hack, target issues like HIV prevention funding, surrogacy and IVF access, and online safety legislation. The app is hosting its inaugural White House Correspondents Dinner weekend party in a Georgetown mansion, attended by "very high level people from both sides." This expansion aims to leverage Grindr's platform for public-private partnerships in healthcare and broaden its scope beyond a dating app.