McCain: Trump’s transgender tweets proof policy isn’t for social media

PHOENIX — U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said Wednesday that President Donald Trump’s tweets about transgender people serving in the military was another indication that social media was not the place to announce new policy.

“The president’s tweet this morning regarding transgender Americans in the military is yet another example of why major policy announcements should not be made via Twitter,” McCain said in a statement.

The senator argued Trump’s Wednesday tweets were unclear and premature.

“The Department of Defense is currently conducting a study on the medical obligations it would incur, the impact on military readiness, and related questions associated with the accession of transgender individuals who are not currently serving in uniform and wish to join the military,” he said.”

“I do not believe that any new policy decision is appropriate until that study is complete and thoroughly reviewed by the Secretary of Defense, our military leadership, and the Congress.”

In a series of tweets, Trump said he wants transgender people barred from serving in the U.S. military “in any capacity,” citing “tremendous medical costs and disruption.”

The president tweeted that he was making his announcement after consulting with “generals and military experts,” but he did not name any. He said the 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.”

McCain said Trump’s new policy would force out transgender people who were serving the U.S. honorably.

“There is no reason to force service members who are able to fight, train, and deploy to leave the military, regardless of their gender identity,” he said.

“We should all be guided by the principle that any American who wants to serve our country and is able to meet the standards should have the opportunity to do so and should be treated as the patriots they are.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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