Chelsea Manning Responds to Trump's Transgender Military Ban

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.

Also Read: Trump Bans Transgender People From US Military 'In Any Capacity'

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.

Also Read: Twitter Reacts to Trump's Transgender Military Ban: 'Don't Take Us Backwards'

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

Also Read: That Time Trump Vowed to Be Better on LGBT Rights Than Hillary Clinton (1 Year Ago)

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.

After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow……

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017

….Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming…..

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017

….victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017

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.

5 Times Trump and His Supporters Flipped on Julian Assange's WikiLeaks (Photos)

Over the years, Republicans — particularly Donald Trump supporters — have done a 180 (or a full 360) in their remarks about WikiLeaks and its founder, Julian Assange. When he leaked on Hillary Clinton’s campaign in 2016, some Republicans said he was doing America a great service. But now the Trump administration is poised to attempt to convict Assange and WikiLeaks for their leaking activities. Here are five times Trump and his supporters have flipped on the matter.
Twitter
In 2010, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said this about Assange: “He is an anti-American operative with blood on his hands. His past posting of classified documents revealed the identity of more than 100 Afghan sources to the Taliban. Why was he not pursued with the same urgency we pursue al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders?”
Getty Images
In 2016, though, Palin changed her tune. She posted an apology to Assange on Facebook. “I apologize for condemning Assange when he published my infamous (and proven noncontroversial, relatively boring) emails years ago,” she wrote.
Facebook
Way back when, Fox News host Sean Hannity said what Assange was doing was “waging his war on America” and called for his arrest. He also said WikiLeaks stealing and publishing classified documents put lives at risk, as Media Matters reported.
Fox
When Assange started leaking emails from the Clinton campaign, though, Hannity became very friendly. He even brought the WikiLeaks founder onto his show for an interview, saying “America owes you a debt of gratitude.”
Fox
Back in 2010, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich said Assange was a terrorist. “Information warfare is warfare. Julian Assange is engaged in warfare. Information terrorism, which leads to people getting killed is terrorism. And Julian Assange is engaged in terrorism.”
NBC
But after the second 2016 presidential debate, Gingrich was on Team Assange. He touted WikiLeaks in the press and even recorded a Facebook video attacking the media for ignoring WikiLeaks documents about Clinton.
Facebook
When WikiLeaks leaked diplomatic cables in 2010, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee advocated for executing U.S. citizens for treason if they worked with the organization.
Getty Images
Once WikiLeaks turned its attention to Clinton, though, Huckabee was ready to discuss Hillary Clinton’s “criminal enterprise,” as he called it, on “Hannity.” He didn’t, however, have anything to say about where the leaks came from or whether the leakers should be brought up on treason charges.
Fox
Trump had strong words for Wikileaks in 2010. As CNN reported, in an interview with radio host Brian Kilmeade, Trump said of Wikileaks, “I think it's disgraceful, I think there should be like death penalty or something.”
Getty Images
During the campaign, though, Trump’s support for WikiLeaks was hard to miss. He tweeted over and over again about things WikiLeaks documents about the Clinton campaign, and said at one campaign rally in October, “WikiLeaks has provided things that are unbelievable.”
Getty Images
While Trump repeatedly tweeted about documents released by WikiLeaks aimed at damaging Clinton, he also tweeted it was the “dishonest media” that claimed he was in agreement with WikiLeaks.
Twitter

1 of 12

Republicans were fans of WikiLeaks during the election, but now the U.S. is looking to charge members of the organization

Over the years, Republicans — particularly Donald Trump supporters — have done a 180 (or a full 360) in their remarks about WikiLeaks and its founder, Julian Assange. When he leaked on Hillary Clinton’s campaign in 2016, some Republicans said he was doing America a great service. But now the Trump administration is poised to attempt to convict Assange and WikiLeaks for their leaking activities. Here are five times Trump and his supporters have flipped on the matter.

View In Gallery