At a conservative gathering in Phoenix, Arizona, President-elect Donald Trump pledged to reverse several progressive policies on transgender issues and immigration.
Addressing the AmericaFest conference, Trump promised immediate action upon assuming office, marking a hardline approach on social and cultural debates that have divided the nation.
“I will sign executive orders to end child sexual mutilation, get transgender out of the military and out of our elementary schools and middle schools and high schools,” Trump declared.
He further committed to making it an official government policy that there are only two genders: male and female. Emphasizing his stance on gender issues, he vowed to “keep men out of women’s sports.”
The president-elect’s comments arrive as debates over transgender rights have become flashpoints in American politics.
States with Democratic and Republican majorities have pursued conflicting legislation regarding gender-affirming care and educational content.
Last week, Congress included a measure in the defense budget to restrict funding for some gender-affirming care for children of military personnel.
In addition to gender policies, Trump outlined a sweeping agenda for his presidency, focusing on crime and national security. He pledged to designate drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and promised to carry out “the largest deportation operation in American history.”
He also criticized Panama’s management of the Panama Canal, threatening to demand its return if the current treaty terms are not upheld.
Declaring that “the golden age of America is upon us,” Trump vowed to end the war in Ukraine, bring stability to the Middle East, and prevent World War III. However, he provided no details on how he intends to accomplish these ambitious goals.
