At a New Hampshire rally, Trump falsely cited consultations with military figures to support his plan for a transgender military ban.
Trump’s Commitment To Reinstating a Ban on Transgender Service Members
Addressing a gathering of fervent supporters at a Windham, New Hampshire high school gymnasium, former President Donald Trump reaffirmed his commitment to reinstating a ban on transgender service members should he return to the White House.
Trump’s statement, laden with misrepresentations, particularly stood out as he referred to the approximately 15,000 transgender individuals serving their country in the military as “it.”
“I’ll also restore the Trump ban on transgender in the military – we’re going to add that. You know, we had it banned. We had it banned,” Trump proclaimed, eliciting cheers from the crowd.
Narrating an anecdote meant to bolster his stance, Trump recounted conversations with military generals.
“You Know, They’re All Afraid To Talk About It, but You Know, I Had To Do What’s Right. You Have To Do What’s Right.”
He asked them, “General, off the record, what do you think of transgender? Sir, is anybody listening sir?”
This narrative runs contrary to reports that he had not consulted with U.S. military generals before announcing the ban on July 26, 2017, via a series of tweets.
“‘What do you think?'” Trump continued, attributing the query to his supposed discussions. “I don’t like it, sir.”
And then I’d say to another General, “You know, they’re all afraid to talk about it, but you know, I had to do what’s right. You have to do what’s right.”
A Comprehensive Analysis Revealed That Not a Single Aspect of Trump’s Statement Held True.
Unsurprisingly, Trump’s account diverges from reality.
His tweets from that fateful day read, “After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you.”
A comprehensive analysis revealed that not a single aspect of Trump’s statement held true.
He had bypassed discussions with his generals and military experts.
Tony Perkins, the Head of the Anti-LGBTQ+ Hate Group Successfully Advocated for the Move
The assertion that transgender service members impose significant medical costs or disruptions was unsubstantiated.
This decision to reinstate the ban was heavily influenced by Tony Perkins, the head of the anti-LGBTQ hate group Family Research Council, who successfully advocated for the move.
Intriguingly, Trump later appointed Perkins to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.
Vice President Mike Pence and Ginni Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and a prominent conspiracy theorist, were also instrumental in pushing for the ban’s announcement and enactment.
Biden Revoked This Ban in 2021
Mark Meadows, then-Congressman and later Trump’s White House chief of staff, played a substantial role in championing the transgender military ban.
Ultimately, President Joe Biden revoked this ban on January 25, 2021, within days of assuming office, signaling a shift in policy and inclusivity within the U.S. Armed Forces.
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The post Trump’s Transgender Military Ban Is a Threat to National Security “We Cannot Be Burdened With the Tremendous Medical Costs and Disruption That Transgender in the Military Would Entail” first appeared on The Net Worth Of.
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