Twitter influencers reacted in an almost universally negative way to President Donald Trump’s announcement Wednesday that transgenders would no longer be allowed to serve in the military.
In a landmark announcement Wednesday, Trump said that after consultation with military generals, it became clear that the medical costs and disruption to the armed forces could not justify allowing transgenders to serve. His decision rolled back the Obama administration’s move in 2016 to repeal the ban on transgenders serving openly.
“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,” Trump tweeted.
Following news of the announcement, Twitter elites exploded with rage, disappointment and emotion.
Ali Velshi, host of MSNBC Live, tweeted out that the military is lucky to have transgenders.
If a person can put up with the prejudice of being transgender in the military AND to fight for their country, we’re lucky to have them
— Ali Velshi (@AliVelshi) July 26, 2017
World affairs columnist Frida Ghitis said the ban on transgenders is purely a “political move.”
Trump is lying about transgenders in military. It's a political move to bolster support w conservatives. No generals support, no med costs https://t.co/SPQqK5j6k0
— Frida Ghitis (@FridaGhitis) July 26, 2017
Television personality Montel Williams claimed that transgender service members are far more patriotic than Trump.
Transgender service-members 1000x the patriots @realDonaldTrump will ever be. Shameless play to bigoted evangelicals https://t.co/BNrcd1VFHz
— Montel Williams (@Montel_Williams) July 26, 2017
Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin said the Trump administration was “playing politics with universal rights.”
Openly playing politics with universal rights of Americans. https://t.co/AECTZw1ArT
— Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) July 26, 2017
Time Magazine and Huffington Post contributor Aaron Gouveia called Trump a “silver-spooned draft dodger” and “disgrace” in response to Wednesday morning’s news.
You are a fucking disgrace. A silver-spooned draft dodger banning people who volunteer to defend our country just bc they're transgender???
— Daddy Files (@DaddyFiles) July 26, 2017
Journalist Jessica Mason Pieklo called the move “cruel & unlawful.”
This move regarding transgender troops is not just cruel & unlawful, it is designed to be a distraction from actual admin crimes #TeamLegal
— Jessica Mason Pieklo (@Hegemommy) July 26, 2017
Freelance journalist Marisa Taylor complained about “legislating hate.”
Transgender Americans are ALREADY bravely serving in the military…and a "ban" will send them back to the days of DADT. Why legislate hate? https://t.co/qy2zlW7r1v
— Marisa Taylor (@MarisaHTaylor) July 26, 2017
Up to 250 service members are in the middle of transitioning to their desired gender, defense officials told The Associated Press.
However, the Pentagon has not officially released the number of transgenders serving in the military.
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