In the final stretch before Election Day, Donald Trump has prominently positioned his opposition to transgender rights as a core element of his campaign strategy. By employing derogatory language and distorting facts, the former president aims to portray a small segment of the U.S. population as a threat to national identity.
Trump’s campaign, along with supportive political action committees, has invested tens of millions in advertisements targeting Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. These ads criticize her prior support for transgender rights, often featuring inflammatory content. At his rallies, Trump showcases a spoof video that mocks transgender individuals and their involvement in the military, frequently eliciting loud boos from attendees. He has falsely claimed that children who attend school might return home after a few days with gender transition surgeries.
During a recent rally at Madison Square Garden, Trump declared, “We will get … transgender insanity the hell out of our schools, and we will keep men out of women’s sports.” This remark resonated strongly with a crowd of over 20,000 supporters.
Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, has added to the anti-transgender rhetoric by suggesting that some white teenagers may identify as transgender to escape their perceived privileges. In an interview with podcaster Joe Rogan, Vance questioned whether this trend was a way for these individuals to reject their “white privilege” and gain advantages in elite university admissions.
Despite his emphasis on immigration, Trump’s attacks on LGBTQ rights have intensified as the election nears. This strategy seems aimed at energizing his base while appealing to moderate voters who may not fully align with him on other issues. The former president has also promoted a hyper-masculine image, often targeting CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, who is gay, with disparaging remarks.
In contrast, Harris has largely refrained from engaging directly with Trump’s attacks but has defended her positions. She highlighted that policies allowing U.S. military personnel access to gender-affirming medical care were established during Trump’s presidency. “I will follow the law,” she stated in a Fox News interview, pointing out that these surgeries were available based on medical necessity under the Trump administration.
Recent polling indicates a divided American electorate regarding transgender rights. A Gallup poll from May revealed that 51% of Americans view gender transition as morally wrong, while a significant portion believes that transgender athletes should compete only on teams matching their birth gender. However, approximately 60% oppose laws banning medical treatments for transgender individuals.
Civil rights advocates express deep concern about the implications of a second Trump term for LGBTQ rights. Trump has made clear his intent to restrict transgender rights if elected, proposing a bill that defines only two genders and seeks to outlaw hormonal and surgical interventions for transgender minors nationwide.
Sarah Kate Ellis, president of the LGBTQ advocacy group GLAAD, emphasized that Trump’s campaign targets already marginalized individuals. “Why are we debating trans people’s medical care?” she asked. “There’s a lack of understanding and humanizing about who trans people are.”
Writer and activist Charlotte Clymer echoed these sentiments, noting the demoralizing impact of Trump’s campaign ads on the transgender community. “We do see the ads, and it’s demoralizing to know this entire subset of people sees us as subhuman,” she stated.
Since September 1, Trump’s campaign has spent around $35 million airing advertisements that feature clips of Harris discussing her support for medical care for transgender individuals in federal custody. The ads suggest her agenda promotes a radical shift away from traditional values, framing it as “they-them, not you.”
At Trump’s rallies, he often generalizes LGBTQ issues, focusing on emotional appeals. He has criticized military leaders for being “woke,” blaming Harris and President Joe Biden for what he claims is a decline in national values. A video played at rallies juxtaposes intense military training with exaggerated portrayals of LGBTQ military personnel, suggesting these are the consequences of a Biden-Harris administration.
As Trump takes the stage, prior speakers prepare the audience by claiming that America is undergoing a national identity crisis, attributing this to the rise of “wokeism” and transgender issues. Vivek Ramaswamy, a former Republican presidential candidate, stated, “These are symptoms of a deeper void of purpose and meaning in our country.”
