President Donald Trump surprised a lot of people — including some enlisted soldiers, it seems — with a series of tweets Wednesday morning spelling out a ban on transgender people serving in any capacity in the U.S. military.
Veteran and Wounded Warrior J.R. Salzman issued his own series of tweets in response, arguing in no uncertain terms that “war is no place for people who are mentally, emotionally, or physically confused or in turmoil.” Our post compiling his tweets has been one of the top posts on the site all day, and his argument obviously resonated with a lot of people, including Tim Kennedy.
All that matters is the effective and efficient lethality of our military. A deterrent keeping America safe. Everything else is politics.
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) July 26, 2017
This post isn’t meant to defend either Trump’s policy or his means of announcing it. His tweets were the top story on all the network newscasts Wednesday evening, but press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders seemed caught off guard when pressed by reporters in the afternoon.
White House's Sanders offers little clarity on Trump statement's effect on transgender people already in military. https://t.co/bzWtYP28QV
— The Associated Press (@AP) July 26, 2017
.@SHSanders45 threatens to end briefing during relentless questioning about transgender ban https://t.co/bOUS1f4vy2 pic.twitter.com/A3EH6aaRKF
— Business Insider (@businessinsider) July 26, 2017
It’s pretty remarkable, though, how quickly the mainstream media managed to coordinate its opposition to Trump’s policy, seeing as it was supposedly sprung on everyone out of the blue. Check out the Washington Post alone:
Perspective: Trump’s military transgender ban? It’s an attack on the whole LGBT community. https://t.co/9E3xZub1Ph
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) July 26, 2017
Perspective: "I served 34 years in the Army. I’m transgender. President Trump is wrong." https://t.co/sCguMUyAAj
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) July 26, 2017
And those were just opinion pieces from guests. There was also the historical take:
Transgender soldiers served in the Civil War https://t.co/3gfmSVXLtD
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) July 26, 2017
… and a refutation of Trump’s claim that “tremendous medical costs” inspired his policy:
The military spends five times as much on Viagra as it would on transgender troops’ medical care:https://t.co/1BwYGOqUAb
— Ali Vitali (@alivitali) July 26, 2017
The Boston Globe ran with that angle as well …
The military spends five times as much on Viagra as it would on transgender medical care https://t.co/REfnb8GzXl
— The Boston Globe (@BostonGlobe) July 26, 2017
… as did Business Insider, which also interviewed retired transgender Navy SEAL Kristin Beck:
The Pentagon spends 5 times more on Viagra than transgender services https://t.co/NtjzRIOsi6 pic.twitter.com/RyTUQzBylb
— Business Insider (@businessinsider) July 26, 2017
Kristin Beck, transgender Navy SEAL: 'Let's meet face to face & you tell me I'm not worthy' https://t.co/CNyBY7xFuE pic.twitter.com/VnKtA0K0TX
— Business Insider (@businessinsider) July 26, 2017
Not to be outdone, ELLE ran with the Viagra angle as well, and found a transgender Air Force veteran of its own to interview:
The Military Spends More on Viagra Than It Would on Medical Care for Trans People https://t.co/bjJjP0kuuA
— ELLE Magazine (US) (@ELLEmagazine) July 26, 2017
"It's an attack on Americans who have willingly dedicated their lives in defense of our freedom." https://t.co/XHyAPWgBY1
— ELLE Magazine (US) (@ELLEmagazine) July 26, 2017
What’s going on, Canada?
Trump says ‘medical costs’ are the reason to ban transgender troops. The military spends five times more on Viagra.https://t.co/XbDJptqQX7 pic.twitter.com/j6TWWcux5V
— Toronto Star (@TorontoStar) July 26, 2017
CNN isn’t so hot at finding missing planes, but the network can find transgender service members pretty quickly:
Lt Cdr Blake Dremann, 1st transgender servicemember promoted since ban lifted, tells us he's now worried about being kicked out of @USNavy
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) July 26, 2017
Army Staff Sgt. Patricia King, a transgender woman: "I felt like I had just gotten fired via tweet.” https://t.co/wjph0KYniI pic.twitter.com/kMcqr6v5ZT
— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) July 26, 2017
Sen. Roy Blunt on Wednesday said that the issue deserved “more than a Twitter conversation,” and it looks like we’re having one.
Considering how long it took for major outlets to take notice (if they did at all) of Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s former IT aide and his smashed hard drives and subsequent arrest at the airport, though, one has to marvel at how quickly the media can put up a united front against a “surprise” tweet from the president.
* * *
Update:
Make the necessary allowances for the time difference and know that BuzzFeed Australia is ON IT.
Dear America, meet one of Australia's former top military officials. She's trans — and she's had it with Trump https://t.co/v9BCU4nb5J
— David Mack (@davidmackau) July 27, 2017
* * *
Related:
Wounded Warrior J.R. Salzman HAMMERS purveyors of PC in the military https://t.co/Weus8YV71Y
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) July 26, 2017
Join the conversation as a VIP Member