Former Pentagon Spokesman and Rear Adm. John Kirby spoke out against President Trump’s transgender troop ban, calling it “a horrible idea.”
“Personally, I’ll tell you I just think this ban is a horrible idea. I was fully in support of President Obama’s decision to let them serve openly. I think it’s a terrible mistake to impact that policy whatsoever,” Kirby said on CNN’s “At This Hour” Thursday.
Kirby was asked how he thought the military would embrace the new policy .
“I actually don’t think it’s going to be that welcomed,” he said. “There are hundreds it not thousands of transgender troops already serving and as I’ve said they’re doing it honorably and well.”
Kirby stressed that at a time when we need as many troops as we can get, it is counter intuitive to turn people away who are willing and able to serve in the U.S. armed forces.
“In a time where the Army wants to increase the number of soldiers they have in the ranks, why would you cut off talent? And these are people with talents and skills. I think the military has moved way beyond issues of concern over this,” he said.
Kirby said there have been no documented issues with bringing transgender troops into the fold, but due to Trump’s policy change, the military has to find a way to follow his directives while still being reasonable.
“Not a single morale issue. No unit cohesion problems. No readiness concerns. I think the rank and file in the military would probably have no problem with transgenders serving openly, but they’ve got this presidential tweet now, which means it’s policy so they have to obey it,” Kirby said.
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