In a fiery speech at the AmericaFest conference in Phoenix, Arizona, President-elect Donald Trump vowed to eliminate what he referred to as “transgender lunacy” on the first day of his presidency. Trump outlined a series of executive orders aimed at restricting LGBTQ rights, including removing transgender individuals from military service and banning their presence in schools.
“I will sign executive orders to end child sexual mutilation, get transgender out of the military and out of our elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools,” Trump declared to a crowd of young conservatives. Emphasizing his stance on gender, he added, “It will be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female.”
Trump also pledged to prohibit transgender women from competing in women’s sports, a move he claimed would restore fairness in athletic competition. “We will keep men out of women’s sports,” he said, doubling down on a contentious issue that has divided the nation.
Donald Trump’s Broader Agenda: Border Control and Drug Cartels
Trump’s speech extended beyond LGBTQ issues. He announced plans to combat “migrant crime” and promised to designate drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. “This criminal network operating on American soil will be dismantled, deported, and destroyed,” Trump asserted. He also pledged to initiate “the largest deportation operation in American history” to curb illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
During his first term, Trump considered applying the terrorist designation to Mexican cartels after nine American citizens from a Mormon community were killed in Mexico. However, he backtracked following requests from then-Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. This time, Trump vowed to push forward without hesitation.
A Bold Vision for Foreign Policy
In his address, Trump painted a stark picture of America under President Joe Biden, describing the past four years as a period of “failure, incompetence, and national decline.” He promised sweeping changes, including ending the war in Ukraine, stabilizing the Middle East, and averting a potential World War III.
“The golden age of America is upon us,” Trump proclaimed, though he did not provide details on how he plans to achieve these ambitious foreign policy goals.
Trump also revisited the issue of the Panama Canal, accusing Panamanian authorities of unfair treatment in managing the critical waterway. He hinted at the possibility of demanding its return to U.S. control, stating, “If the principles of the 1970s treaty are not followed, we will demand the canal be returned to the United States in full, quickly and without question.”
Transgender Issues Remain Central to Political Debate
Transgender rights have been a contentious topic in U.S. politics, with Republican- and Democratic-led states implementing opposing policies. Last week, Congress approved a defense budget that included provisions to block funding for some gender-affirming care for transgender children of military service members.
Critics argue that Trump’s proposed policies could exacerbate discrimination against the LGBTQ community, while supporters see his plans as a return to traditional values.
Campaign Promises and Unanswered Questions
Trump’s promises for his second term included expansive domestic and international policies, many of which remain undefined. While his speech rallied his conservative base, questions linger about how he intends to deliver on these bold commitments.
From executive orders targeting transgender individuals to a crackdown on drug cartels and foreign policy maneuvers, Trump’s vision reflects a deeply polarizing agenda that promises to shape the trajectory of the United States in the years to come.