Donald Trump’s political reach has extended into the online dating sphere.
A website called Trump.Dating is offering its matchmaking services to Trump voters who feel excluded from dating sites where their political leanings have become relationship deal breakers.
"We believe that by matching patriotic and political viewpoints as a base foundation of the relationship, it will allow one to focus on what really matters - conversation, commonalities, and if all goes well, courting", according to its mission statement.
The site claims to provide a safe space for people on the receiving end of "No Trump supporters" and "Proud liberal", giving "like-minded Americans a chance to meet without the awkwardness" of politics.
The potential for uncomfortable conversations comes from Trump.Dating’s homepage, where identifying as a "straight man" or "straight woman" are the only available sign up options.
The site also drew criticism on Wednesday when it was reported that a couple featured on its front page included a man, Barrett Riddleberger, who was previously convicted of indecent liberties with a child, according to the Greensboro News & Record.
Barrett Riddleberger featured on Trump.Dating as of February 18, 2018 is a convicted child sex offender. Source: Screenshot/Trump.Dating
Mr Riddleberger, pictured with his wife on the site, was accused of videotaping himself having sex with a 15-year-old girl at the age of 25.
The couple’s image has since been removed from the website.
While Trump.Dating does not welcome members of the LGBT community, it did initially invite "happily married" or "unhappily married" users to set up profiles.
It has been reported recently that Trump himself is embroiled in extramarital scandals, with porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal both alleging they had affairs with the President.
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It remains unclear how many accounts on Trump.Dating are authentic, but the site's subscribers appear to be mostly white and seem share Trump's brand of polarising politics.
Profile descriptions like "white power" and "Southern Gal from Mississippi in the liberal HELL of Connecticut" are common, along with declarations of support for the President such as, "I love Trump with a dying passion".
There are four ethnicity options given to users identifying as "White/Caucasian" or from European countries and only one category each for "Middle Eastern", "Asian" and "Black/African/American".
Trump.Dating is not the only site of its kind. TrumpSingles is another dating platform that caters to Trump supporters and also limits its gender options to heterosexuals.
