Trump announces transgender military ban in three early-morning tweets, catching Pentagon leadership off guard

President Trump announced via Twitter at 8:55 a.m. on July 26, 2017, that the United States would not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military. The tweets came without advance notice to the Joint Chiefs of Staff or the Secretary of Defense, who were not consulted before the announcement. Pentagon spokesperson Dana White said the department had no guidance on implementing the order. Four federal courts subsequently issued injunctions blocking enforcement before the Supreme Court permitted enforcement via 5-4 stay in January 2019.