President Donald Trump announced plans to ban transgender Americans from serving in the U.S. military, sending three tweets on Wednesday morning that are sure to spark a major firestorm.
Trump said the decision was made after “consultation” with his generals as well as other 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 wrote. “Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory.”
Here are the tweets:
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
Transgender Americans have been able to serve openly since last year when the Obama administration overturned the ban. Trump’s tweets indicate that he is putting the policy back on the books.
What do you think?