"The four options: One was to retain the Obama policy that allowed transgender people to serve openly, two was to issue a directive to Secretary Mattis giving him leeway, three was a presidential order to end the program but come up with a plan for those transgender people already in the military, and four was to ban all transgender people from military service. The likelihood of being sued increased as they got to number four, Priebus explained. "When you come down, we want to walk you through on paper," Priebus said. "I'll be down at 10," the president said. "Why don't you guys come and see me then? We'll figure it out." Pribeus thought they had found an orderly process on at least one controversial matter. At 8:55 a.m., his phone signaled him that a presidential tweet had been sent. "After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow..." In two more tweets following at 9:04 and 9:08 a.m., Trump finished his announcement: "...Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you.""
January 1, 1970