Rep. Seth Moulton responded to President Donald Trump’s call for a ban on transgender people serving in the U.S. military, calling the move “despicable.”
“It sounds like the same argument used against African-Americans, used against gays, used against whoever else …people who are willing to put their lives on the country, which by the way, is far more than President Trump has ever been willing to do,” Moulton said in an interview with Boston Public Radio Wednesday. “He got five deferments to avoid serving, himself.”
Trump announced the news through a series of tweets Wednesday morning.
“After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military,” Trump tweeted. “Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you”
Earlier this month, a majority of the House voted down a similar amendment that proposed a restriction on funding for transgender members of the military, which would reverse policy changes enacted under former President Barack Obama.
The proposal failed on a 209-214 vote, with 24 Republicans joining the Democratic caucus. “Several Republicans crossed the aisle to vote with Democrats and turn this policy down,” Moulton said. “Now President Trump is trying to reverse that decision, trying to turn us back into the stone ages here, and I’ll tell you what — we’re going to do whatever we can to stop it.”
To hear Rep. Seth Moulton's full interview with Boston Public Radio, click on the audio player above.
