Netflix Finally Puts a Gay President in the White House

In Netflix’s new political murder mystery The Residence, the murder is fiction—but the impact of seeing a gay couple in the White House feels very real.

Created by Scandal writer Paul William Davies and executive produced by Shonda Rhimes, The Residence is a genre-bending whodunit set in the East Wing during a glitzy state dinner gone horribly wrong. But beneath the glimmer of suspense and comedy lies something far more revolutionary: an openly gay president leading the country, while his husband navigates life as First Gentleman.

A Presidential First—on Screen and Off

President Perry Morgan (Paul Fitzgerald) and First Gentleman Elliot Morgan (Barrett Foa) are not just comic relief or side characters—they’re front and center in a world that still doesn’t often imagine queer couples holding America’s highest office.

“Let’s be honest—this show couldn’t have come at a more pointed time,” Fitzgerald said in an interview. “When you’ve got presidential candidates literally calling for ‘traditional values’ while rolling back protections for LGBTQ+ Americans, playing a gay president felt like an act of hope.”

Indeed, the timing of The Residence lands amid a cultural whiplash: a Supreme Court swerving right, conservative governors banning drag shows, and Trump—again the GOP frontrunner—campaigning on a platform that frames queerness as a threat to “American greatness.”

Barrett Foa echoed the weight of that moment: “This role gave me a chance to show that a First Gentleman can be flawed, fabulous, and still deeply human. We’re not props—we’re people. And that matters more than ever now.”

Drama, Comedy—and a Murder in the East Wing

The story opens with a shocking death at a lavish White House dinner. Enter Detective Cordelia Cupp (Uzo Aduba), a forensic genius with an eye for secrets. Nearly 200 guests, staff, and officials are suspects—including the President and his husband.

It’s the perfect cocktail of Knives Out-style intrigue and Veep-style dysfunction.

President Morgan is barely six months into his term, and already struggling. His administration is flailing, and he vents his fury not through war declarations—but over weak water pressure in the presidential shower.

“I funneled all my frustration into that damn plumbing situation,” Fitzgerald laughed. “He’s used to winning. And now, he can’t even get hot water.”

Meanwhile, Elliot tries to maintain grace under pressure but admits he’s in over his head. “He wants to be Jackie O,” Foa said. “But he’s more like… if Jackie O accidentally hired a bunch of sharks and then got dragged around the tank.”

Chemistry Born in Theater—and the Reagan Library

Long before cameras rolled, the two actors built chemistry the old-fashioned way: musical theater and presidential research.

“I slid into Paul’s DMs and said, ‘I think we’re about to be husbands,’” Foa said. “And then we went to the Ronald Reagan Library to study Air Force One. It was our first date as fake husbands.”

Both actors come from theater backgrounds, which helped them infuse humor and heart into their roles. “We’re theater dorks,” Foa added. “It gave us a shorthand. We could jump into each scene with this weird, wonderful energy.”

Finale Fireworks—and a Presidential Panic Attack

One of the series’ standout moments comes in the finale. With all suspects gathered, Detective Cupp drops a bombshell: evidence points to First Gentleman Elliot.

President Morgan’s reaction? A beautifully chaotic blend of panic, disbelief, and loyalty.

“It’s 28 emotions crashing at once,” Fitzgerald said. “You’re the President. Your husband might be a murderer. But you’re also in front of the press. It’s the most fun scene I’ve ever done.”

Foa called it “a dream to act. You’re not just reacting to the accusation—you’re reacting to how your partner is reacting. It’s layered. It’s messy. It’s real.”

A Queer President Who Doesn’t Have to Apologize for Existing

In a media landscape still playing catch-up with representation, The Residence makes no apologies. These characters aren’t defined by their sexuality—but their queerness isn’t erased either.

“I didn’t feel like I had to ‘act straight,’” Fitzgerald said. “That’s a big shift. I just played a man who happens to be gay, and happens to be president. And that was enough.”

Foa reflected on his personal journey. “When I got to Hollywood, I wasn’t sure if I should hide parts of myself. Now I get to be in a role where I can bring all of me. That’s what healing looks like.”

Kylie Minogue, Choreography, and Presidential Restraint

Adding sparkle to the murder and politics? Australian pop queen Kylie Minogue, who performs during the state dinner.

“When she starts singing, and my husband starts bopping in his chair, I had to decide—does the President get up and dance?” Fitzgerald said. “I wanted to. But I stayed seated. Not because I’m gay—because I’m the President. That tension was delicious.”

Off-screen, Foa got an impromptu dance lesson. “Kylie taught me choreography between takes,” he said, grinning. “Then she gave me front-row tickets to her Vegas show. I was losing it.”

More Than a TV Show—A Cultural Reset

The Residence isn’t trying to make a political statement. It is the statement.

“We’ve been told that queerness and leadership are incompatible,” Fitzgerald said. “This show throws that out the window. You can be gay and dignified. You can be goofy and powerful. You can dance to Kylie Minogue and still run a country.”

Foa added: “TV helps people imagine futures they didn’t think were possible. If even one person sees us and thinks, ‘I could be that,’ then we’ve done our job.”

In a political climate where representation is still under attack, The Residence offers something radical: joy, visibility, and the quiet power of simply existing in spaces once considered off-limits.

As President Perry Morgan and First Gentleman Elliot prove—sometimes being yourself is the most presidential thing you can do.