Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.
Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) has called on President Donald Trump to rescind his executive order banning transgender individuals from serving in the US military.
Some shit you should know before you read: Shortly after taking office, President Trump signed an executive order reinstating a ban on transgender individuals serving in the US military, reversing the policy put in place by the Biden administration in 2021. The order directed the Department of Defense to prohibit individuals from enlisting or serving if their gender identity differs from their biological sex, effectively barring most transgender troops from military service. Additionally, it eliminated access to “gender-affirming” medical care for active-duty service members, including hormone therapy and surgeries, which had been covered under previous policies. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a memo enforcing the directive, framing it as a move to “strengthen” military readiness.
What’s going on now: In an announcement, Senator Fetterman called on President Trump to rescind his executive order banning transgender individuals from military service, arguing that inclusivity does not weaken the armed forces. “I am unapologetically pro-military—I believe in a strong, lethal military. But I am also unapologetically pro the LGBTQ community,” Fetterman stated in a video posted to X. Standing in front of both the POW/MIA and LGBTQ pride flags, he urged Trump to “honor the inherent dignity of the soldier” regardless of gender identity, race, or sexual orientation. He dismissed claims that allowing transgender troops is a distraction, saying, “A military that respects and supports all of its members is fully capable of being lethal and winning wars.”
Fetterman added, “I want the Department of Defense to be the most lethal force in human history—I will always vote for that. I will also never vote to degrade anyone. It’s not woke shit.”
This comes as Senator Fetterman has occasionally praised President Trump on certain issues, including his willingness to challenge the status quo on foreign policy. Currently, the White House and Pentagon have not responded to Senator Fetterman’s comments.
