A conservative drag performer schooled an anti-Israel Pride marcher on her contradictory support for anti-gay Palestine in an incredible exchange captured on video — that has now racked up millions of views and sparked widespread debate online.
The video, posted last week on X, features die-hard Trump supporter Lady Maga, also known as Ryan Woods, decked out in fairy princess regalia doing man-on-the-street Pride Month interviews in Salt Lake City.
In the viral segment now viewed more than 3 million times, Woods has a candid conversation with a young woman in a rainbow skirt about her views on Israel’s war with Hamas.
When she acknowledges she’s anti-Israel, Woods points out, “as a gay man, I would be punished, put in prison or killed if I was openly gay in Palestine,” and asked her to react.
The marcher pauses and cocks her head to the side, initially unsure how to react before acknowledging “I didn’t know that.”
In an interview with The Post Wednesday, Woods said having these kinds of conversations are a big part of what the alter-ego is all about.
“My role as Lady Maga is not to just support the MAGA movement and encourage people to support President Trump, it’s to expose the modern hijacking of the gay movement,” Woods said.
One of the many ways he feels the movement has gone astray is in adopting “humiliatingly stupid” political issues like “Queers for Palestine.”
“It’s like saying ‘mice for cats’ or ‘slugs for salt,’” he mused.
As for the genteel approach he took during the brief conversation in the video, something of a rarity in today’s hyper-partisan political climate, Woods says he doesn’t believe mocking people or being rude for clicks helps the movement.
“I don’t view people with opposing viewpoints as enemies. When I’m Lady Maga, I want people to feel loved and respected, I want them to feel comfortable. I’m not out there to ‘destroy’ them like so many influencers are,” he said.
“I’ve been assaulted, punched in the stomach and escorted to my car by police because of angry mobs. This woman was not only very willing to answer my questions but also [willing to] listen. I feel our exchange was beneficial to both of us.”
However, during the viral exchange, Woods admitted, “my heart was breaking on the inside knowing I was going to share this content, because her ignorance was so apparent but I did feel a responsibility to share it.”
Asked why he does these kinds of interviews while dressed in drag, Woods says it’s “to defy the left” and to “reclaim the dignified artistry of drag, as opposed to drag queens twerking in a thong in elementary schools.
“If it was just your regular white man in a Trump hat walking around I don’t think people would have been as receptive.”
Lady Maga has become a fixture at not only Trump rallies, but conservative events and conferences like the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).
Woods said his alter-ego has been embraced with open arms — sometimes literally — by even the most hardcore MAGA crowd.
“Even at Trump rallies, the most burly, bearded, tattooed, alpha MAGA-types come up and thank me for being there, take a hug, and take a selfie,” Woods said, saying there are many misconceptions about the movement.
“The MAGA movement is truly about love and unity, and it’s just so sad we’re painted as these horrible racist, violent radicals. The reception is overwhelmingly positive — if it wasn’t I wouldn’t go,” he said.
As for whether people can expect to see Lady Maga out on the campaign trail during this year’s election, Woods said as long as he can afford the airfare he will continue showing up at events.
“Lady Maga is here to stay,” he said.
