"The policies set forth by the Secretary of Defense state that transgender persons with a history or diagnosis of gender dysphoria — individuals who the policies state may require substantial medical treatment, including medications and surgery — are disqualified from military service except under certain limited circumstances," the memo stated.
READ MORE: Trump Bans Most US Transgender Troops from Military Service in New Memo
The highly debated issue couldn’t go unnoticed on social media, with many users insisting that Trump’s move was unconstitutional.
Sad day…this is NOT the America I’ve known and loved…I don’t recognize it any more. These PEOPLE deserve to serve our country…they have heads, hearts, fingers, legs, arms and a DESIRE to fight for their country! Something TRUMP WANTED NO PART OF, coward that he is!
— Really?!! (@MichNazz) 24 марта 2018 г.
As the mother of a transgender child I am heartbroken and OUTRAGED that the Leader of the free world would encourage hate and oppression of citizens of the USA. Disgusting! pic.twitter.com/hZg3wp7VQm
— Macy Adee (@macadee) 24 марта 2018 г.
Lunatic bigot Trump doubling down on his complete ban of transgender men and women serving in the military should surprise no one. After all, Trump is the very personification of ignorance, hate and bigotry. #ProtectTransTroops
— Bill Madden (@activist360) 24 марта 2018 г.
It's shameful that @realDonaldTrump is once again trying to ban transgender Americans from service. Thousands of brave transgender Americans are protecting us at home and abroad. We should honor their service. Once again Trump is wrong and will lose in court.
— Sam Jammal (@samjammal) 24 марта 2018 г.
Others did not mince words, alluding to the president’s bone-spur diagnosis which allowed him to receive five deferrals from the Vietnam War draft:
Trump moves to ban transgender patriots from serving their country after he used invented bone spurs to avoid serving himself. #LGBT
— The Bern Notice Blog (@BernNoticeBlog) 24 марта 2018 г.
#CadetBoneSpurs telling people they can't serve in the armed forces is the very definition of irony. #TransgenderBan
— Hobbes (@JohnQuinnPublic) 24 марта 2018 г.
Trump moves to ban most Transgender from the military, this coming from a coward who was afraid to serve. Whether you understand Transgender or not we should all stand with ANYONE who is willing to put their lives on the line while we stay safe at home. They are protecting us.
— Randy Kennedy (@randyrocks08) 24 марта 2018 г.
Popular American singer Demi Lovato joined those who condemned Trump’s decision…
There is no legitimate reason to ban transgender troops. Period.
— Demi Lovato (@ddlovato) 24 марта 2018 г.
…as well as top Democrat Nancy Pelosi:
No one with the strength & bravery to serve in the U.S. military should be turned away because of who they are. This hateful ban is purpose-built to humiliate our brave transgender members of the military who serve with honor & dignity. #ProtectTransTroops
— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) 24 марта 2018 г.
Another user managed to find Trump’s tweet on the LGBT community which he posted during the 2016 election campaign:
Thank you to the LGBT community! I will fight for you while Hillary brings in more people that will threaten your freedoms and beliefs.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 14 июня 2016 г.
Many Twitterians suspected that Trump was trying to distract people from real news, such as the anticipated Stormy Daniels interview due to air Sunday, or the fact that he had signed the “biggest” spending bill into law:
Boy, this transgender ban is going to get conservatives to forget you signed the biggest spending bill ever and Sunday’s 60 Minutes interview. #DeflectionDon https://t.co/eqSWZedbLV
— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) 24 марта 2018 г.
Trump is playing all angles to avoid real news.
— me (@GlenBrown15) 24 марта 2018 г.
Does anyone think, as I do, that Trumps late Friday night announcement regarding transgender ban from military might have a lot to do with the heavy coverage of Stormy Daniels that will play out all weekend up to the highly anticipated interview on 60Minutes with her? Just saying
— Cheri Buss ✌️ (@CheriBuss) 24 марта 2018 г.
Meanwhile, there were those who shared the president’s views, insisting that transgender people should not serve in the army:
We need MEN fighting,not feminized men.Nothing against them,just not physically up to it.
— sicilian (@sicilianpirate) 24 марта 2018 г.
If you changed genders once what’s holding them back from changing sides during battle. Transnational is real and it’s a threat to our troops.
— Tonya Washington (@TweetsFromTonya) 24 марта 2018 г.
Banning transgenders from the military is the best way to #ProtectTransTroops from harming the effectiveness of our military, or harming themselves due to their issues.
— Mark Dice (@MarkDice) 24 марта 2018 г.
On Friday, Trump issued a memo disqualifying transgender people with gender dysphoria from military service.
"The Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, with respect to the U.S. Coast Guard, may exercise their authority to implement any appropriate policies concerning military service by transgender individuals," Trump stated.
President Trump’s decision marks a complete reversal of a policy outlined by his predecessor Barack Obama.
