Donald Trump lashes out at “politically correct” transgender troops in US military

Not surprising anyone at all, Donald Trump says he would support reversing the Obama Administration’s recent repeal of the US military’s ban on transgender personnel.

On Monday, the controversial Republican presidential candidate was asked by a veteran what he thought of the “social engineering and political correctness that’s been imposed” on the military, such as allowing transgender staff and troops.

Speaking at a campaign event in Virginia, Trump replied to applause: “Well, we’re going to get away from political correctness… We’re gonna have to do that.”

He went on to say: “You’re right, we have a politically correct military, and it’s getting more and more politically correct every day, and a lot of the great people in this room don’t even understand how it’s possible to do that.

“And that’s through intelligence not ignorance, believe me, because some of the things they’re asking you to do and be politically correct about are ridiculous.”

In July 2015, the Pentagon announced a working group to study how to modify regulations to allow open transgender military service. In July this year, the US Department of Defence finally ended the discriminatory policy.

Trump’s stance was slammed by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). “Allowing transgender people to serve their country isn’t about politics, it’s about extending them the respect and dignity every service member deserves,” commented HRC Communications Director Jay Brown.

“This is yet another example of the grave threat that Donald Trump and Mike Pence pose to LGBTQ Americans,” he added.

In addition to the United States, 18 other nations, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Israel, already allow transgender people to serve openly in their militaries.

Until September 2011, openly gay service members were also barred from serving in the US military under the now repealed Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell law.

As a member of Congress, Trump’s running mate Mike Pence opposed the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, by saying it would turn the military into “a backdrop for social experimentation.”