Walz Statement on President Trump's Ban on Transgender Military Service

Statement

Today, U.S. Representative Tim Walz (MN-01) released the following statement after President Trump announced he will ban transgender Americans from serving in the United States armed forces:

"Our brave transgender troops currently serving this great nation are not a burden; they are American heroes. They volunteered to put their lives on the line for our freedom, and their service should be welcomed, celebrated, respected, and honored. After 24 years of service as an enlisted soldier, I know what it takes to build cohesive teams in our military. This President, who hasn't served a day of his life in uniform, does not.

"The men and women who serve our nation have made our military the greatest fighting force the world has ever seen. They meet the challenges we ask them to face, from protecting our homeland to hunting terrorists who seek to do us harm all the way to the ends of the Earth. Let me be clear: serving alongside troops who happen to be different from you is not a challenge.

"This announcement is a clear indication that the President fails to understand a fundamental truth: our troops are capable professionals who can carry out any mission this nation requires. The Department of Defense already has a plan to ensure that all those who want to serve our nation can. This is nothing more than the President using American lives to attempt to distract from his own political problems.

"On this day in 1948, President Harry Truman signed an executive order desegregating the military. Our nation has faced down bigotry before and we will do so again. Our nation's values call us to stand up for justice and liberty. Policies rooted in hate always fail in the end and this will be no different."

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