Before the first executive order is signed or the first arrest is made, there is language—language that reshapes the public’s perception of who deserves rights, protection, or even freedom. Donald Trump’s words about transgender people are not just cruel, they are strategic.
Here are some of the most alarming statements and narratives he has used:
“Dishonorable,” “Mentally Unfit,” “Untruthful”
In his January 2025 executive orders, Trump declared that transgender people:
“Cannot satisfy the rigorous standards necessary for military service.”
“Adoption of a gender identity inconsistent with an individual’s sex conflicts with a soldier’s commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle.”
By framing trans identity as inherently dishonest and unfit for service, Trump is setting a moral framework where trans people are viewed as liars and security risks, a historical first step toward exclusion, institutionalization, or detention.
“Mutilating Children”
Trump frequently uses the phrase:
This isn’t just inaccurate—it’s designed to incite moral panic. It frames supportive parents, doctors, and even trans youth themselves as part of a criminal enterprise, laying the groundwork for child abuse charges, family separation, or medical bans, all of which are already happening in red states.
“Dangerous Gender Ideology”
In speeches and executive text, Trump and his allies describe trans existence as:
“A dangerous ideology that must be rooted out.”
This isn’t just a political disagreement, it’s language used to justify eradication. It implies that transgender people themselves are vectors of danger, an invasion of the body politic that must be removed.
“Vermin” and “Poison”
While not always aimed exclusively at transgender people, Trump has referred to his opponents and perceived enemies as:
“Vermin.”
“Poison that is destroying our country.”
These terms historically dehumanize groups before violence is justified against them. Nazi propaganda referred to Jews as vermin. Rwandan propaganda used similar language before the genocide. Language like this radicalizes followers and normalizes brutality.
Why It Matters
This rhetoric:
- Makes it easier to pass laws that erase or criminalize trans people
- Legitimizes violence from followers and state actors
- Conditions the public to accept surveillance, arrest, or detainment
- Allows opponents to say, “They brought it on themselves.”
We Must Name It Clearly
Trump’s words are not just hostile. They are designed to make transgender people unworthy of sympathy, legal protection, or existence.
This is not alarmism. It’s a pattern—and history has shown where this leads.