Red, White, and Royal Blue

Zahra enters for a morning briefing wearing a diamond engagement ring but refuses to answer questions about who her fiancé is. In the midst of coordinating campaign appearances, she receives a message that a video has been leaked to the press of Henry and Alex leaving a hotel bar after the DNC. Henry’s arm is around Alex’s waist. Zahra, June, and Nora immediately go into damage control mode. June posts a photo online of herself kissing Henry at the lake house that immediately deflects attention away from her brother and toward herself. Nora takes Alex on a date and allows them to be photographed in poses suggesting that they’re a romantic couple. While media attention is being diverted away from Alex and Henry, the two are forced to avoid seeing one another until the speculation dies down.

Alex feels the stress of his separation from Henry and his inability to do anything to help his mother’s campaign. Filled with frustration, he directs his anger at Rafael when he discovers the senator working late one night. He accuses Rafael of being a turncoat by campaigning for Richards. Rafael counters that Alex can’t possibly understand his situation. Alex replies that he has already walked a mile in the gay senator’s shoes.