On Wednesday morning (July 26), Donald Trump decided to announce a life-altering decision via his controversial Twitter account. The 71-year-old ruled that transgender people will no longer be allowed to serve in the U.S. military “in any capacity,” Splinter reports.
“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,” he tweeted. “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.”
After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow……
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017
….Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017
….victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017
The out-of-left-field decision drew ire from social media users:
This is shameful and wrong. #VetsAgainstTrump
— Vets Against Trump (@Vets_Vs_Trump) July 26, 2017
And fuck Donald Trump for deliberately excluding trans men and women from the military. Fuck him & his vile transphobia.
— sianushka (@sianushka) July 26, 2017
Donald trump attacking trans gender people now. Maybe white people will finally do something ♂️
— Devin Williams (@d_williams45) July 26, 2017
Donald Trump has now declared that trans people can’t serve in the US Military in any capacity. He’s a fucking disgrace
— alex (@aluxjamez) July 26, 2017
FACT: Donald Trump HATES the LGBT community. First, he killed protections for trans students. Now, this happens. I’m so sorry, my LGBT pals.
— Chris Barca (@CBarcaQC) July 26, 2017
I’m done. There’s no more hope. Donald Trump is a monster. There’s absolutely no reason to ban trans people from serving in the military.
— taylor (@taaylorson) July 26, 2017
trump ran a master class okeydoke this morning. masterful because it’s pretty much impossible to ignore.
— El Flaco (@bomani_jones) July 26, 2017
It is hard to believe the medical cost surpasses the tax bill the country has burden for years because of the “First Family” no tax policy. https://t.co/7UsE4bK01T
— Corbin Norman (@Corbinos_Way) July 26, 2017
June 2016: Trump vows to fight for LGBT community
July 2017: Trump bans trans people from serving in the militaryA study in contradiction: pic.twitter.com/M00BdFfCy0
— Splinter (@splinter_news) July 26, 2017
According to the Associated Press, former Defense Secretary Ash Carter previously lifted the military’s ban on allowing transgender people to serve in the armed forces. The disbanded ruling permitted trans people to serve openly.
“This is the right thing to do for our people and for the force,” Carter said during the 2016 decision. “We’re talking about talented Americans who are serving with distinction or who want the opportunity to serve. We can’t allow barriers unrelated to a person’s qualifications prevent us from recruiting and retaining those who can best accomplish the mission.”
Details are still forthcoming.