Chelsea Manning, who was pardoned by Barack Obama in January, is responding to Donald Trump’s ban on transgender people in the United States military. “So, biggest baddest most $$ military on earth cries about a few trans people but funds the F-35? Sounds like cowardice #WeGotThis,” she tweeted Wednesday morning.
so, biggest baddest most $$ military on earth cries about a few trans people ? but funds the F-35? ? sounds like cowardice ??? #WeGotThis
— Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea) July 26, 2017
Since her initial tweet on the matter, she has been responding to replies. “Militaries, esp. U.S., have always been a social experiment just as much as a fighting force its how it got so bloated #WeGotThis,” she said in an additional tweet. While some thanked Manning for her inspiration and courage, others were less than kind. “Go find a hole, crawl deep inside it, stay there,” one said, to which Manning responded “never,” along with the grinning and double heart emojis.
militaries, esp. U.S., have always been a social experiment just as much as a fighting force ? its how it got so bloated ? #WeGotThis ??? https://t.co/HtNa54AeSP
— Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea) July 26, 2017
remember, its love and inspiration that gives us our courage ??? https://t.co/4YW3QV9d8p
— Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea) July 26, 2017
im not "giving" you hope ☺️ you already have it ?? https://t.co/TDruIASn8q
— Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea) July 26, 2017
so not only do you want to ban trans people, now you want to throw us in prison ?? sounds familiar ? https://t.co/11s6C7VUS8
— Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea) July 26, 2017
#WeGotThis ??? https://t.co/gAeUG2WxUF
— Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea) July 26, 2017
never ?? https://t.co/keIZ2DhyOi
— Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea) July 26, 2017
Trump announced the ban on Twitter Wednesday morning, citing medical expenses as a driving force for the decision. As CNN pointed out, a 2016 Rand Corp. study found that transgender people serving in the military would have a “minimal impact” on health care costs.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/890193981585444864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thewrap.com%2Ftrump-declares-transgender-people-may-no-longer-serve-capacity-us-military%2F
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/890196164313833472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thewrap.com%2Ftrump-declares-transgender-people-may-no-longer-serve-capacity-us-military%2F
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/890197095151546369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thewrap.com%2Ftrump-declares-transgender-people-may-no-longer-serve-capacity-us-military%2F
Barack Obama commuted Manning’s 35-year sentence in January for her 2010 conviction for a leak about U.S. military and diplomatic activities. Hers was the longest sentence ever imposed in the U.S. for a leak conviction. A transgender woman, Manning was forced to serve her time in a men’s prison.