Trump’s Navy Secretary On Transgender Troops: ‘Any Patriot’ Should Serve

Richard Spencer attends a hearing of the Senate Armed Services committee on his nomination to be the Secretary of the Navy, Tuesday, July 11, 2017, on Capitol Hill. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Navy Secretary nominee Richard Spencer listens while testifying on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, July 11, 2017, before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on his nomination. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
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While visiting Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia on Thursday, Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer said that despite President Trump’s intended transgender military ban, “any patriot” should be allowed to serve.

“We will process and take direction on a policy that will be developed by the secretary (with) direction from the President — and march out smartly,” Spencer told reporters, according to The Daily Press. “As I said before, on a fundamental basis, any patriot that wants to serve and meets all the requirements should be able to serve in our military.”

Spencer was confirmed a week after Trump’s tweets on his plans to ban transgender people from serving in the military, a move that would reverse an Obama-era policy allowing transgender individuals to serve openly.

Spencer’s comments came as Trump said he is “doing the military a great favor” with the intended ban. Earlier this week, five active-duty service members filed a lawsuit against Trump claiming his directive violates the Equal Protection component of the Due Process Clauses of the Fifth Amendment.

Spencer isn’t the only one at odds with Trump, as the President has come under fire from Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and the Coast Guard.

A Quinnipiac poll released last week found a majority of American voters believe transgender individuals should be allowed to serve in the U.S. military.

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Notable Replies

  1. Why does Spencer hate America so much?

    Hey speaking of sarcasm, and yes that question above was meant as sarcasm for those that took offence, the Democratic slogans at the start of this clip are pretty damn funny even if the one above wasn’t.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7wmANbBP4o
  2. It’s almost like tweeting out an idiotic brain fart to settle an argument between WH factions isn’t a good idea.

  3. “Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer said that despite President Trump’s intended transgender military ban, ‘any patriot’ should be allowed to serve.”

    So he’s banning Comrade Donald?

  4. any patriot that wants to serve and meets all the requirements should be able to serve

    How unfortunate that we can’t apply the same standard to the highest office in the land.

  5. Avatar for marby marby says:

    Thanks for speaking up for American values, Secretary Spencer. May many others in a position of authority follow your lead.

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