President-elect Donald Trump delivering a speech at AmericaFest in Phoenix. | Photo Credit: AP
President-elect Donald Trump made a firm commitment on Sunday (December 22, 2024) to put an end to what he referred to as “transgender lunacy” right from the start of his presidency. With Republicans poised to hold power in both the Congress and the White House, their ongoing efforts against LGBTQ rights remain steadfast.
“I pledge to sign executive orders that will put an end to child sexual mutilation. Additionally, I will ensure that transgender individuals are no longer allowed in the military, as well as in our elementary, middle, and high schools,” declared the President-elect during a gathering for young conservatives in Phoenix, Arizona.
He made a promise to “prevent men from participating in women’s sports,” emphasizing that the United States government will officially recognize only two genders, male and female.
During his speech at the AmericaFest conference, held in a border State that he had won by a wide margin in the November election, Mr. Trump made several promises. He emphasized taking immediate action against “migrant crime,” expressing his determination to designate drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. Moreover, he reiterated his commitment to restoring U.S. control over the Panama Canal.
Transgender issues have caused significant controversy in American politics in recent years. There has been a stark divide between Democratic- and Republican-controlled states regarding policies related to medical treatment and the availability of transgender-related literature in public or school libraries.
The recent approval of the U.S. Congress for its yearly defense budget has raised concerns, as it includes a provision that restricts funding for certain gender-affirming care for transgender children of service members.
In his Sunday speech, Mr. Trump took the opportunity to highlight his achievements and lay out his ambitious plans for a second term. He painted a grim picture of the four years under President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, whom he defeated in the 2024 election.
“On January 20, the United States will finally leave behind four years of failure, incompetence, and national decline, as we embrace a new era of peace, prosperity, and national greatness,” stated Mr. Trump, reflecting on his upcoming inauguration.
‘Golden age’
“I am committed to ending the war in Ukraine, bringing stability to the Middle East, and ensuring that World War III does not become a reality,”
He enthusiastically proclaimed, “We are currently experiencing the golden age of America.”
The President-elect has not yet publicly outlined his strategy for swiftly resolving the conflict in Ukraine and achieving peace in the Middle East.
In a rather confrontational manner, President Trump expressed his discontent with the way Panamanian authorities have been managing the operation of the Panama Canal. He argued that they have not been fair to the United States, even using strong language against American allies in the past.
Earlier, he expressed his opinion that the fees for using the canal, which was built by France and completed by the United States, are “ridiculous.”
He further emphasized on Sunday that if the fundamental principles of the 1970s treaty, which granted Panama complete control over the canal, are not upheld, the United States will insist on its prompt and unconditional return.
The Panama Canal is a crucial waterway for both the United States and international trade, with thousands of ships passing through it annually.
The President-elect, known for consistently attributing America’s drug problems to migrants from Latin America, reaffirmed his commitment to launching the most extensive deportation operation in American history as soon as he assumes office. Furthermore, he expressed his intention to promptly classify the drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
“We will dismantle, deport, and destroy this criminal network operating on American soil,” stated Mr. Trump.
In 2019, during his first term, President Trump made a promise to designate Mexican cartels as terrorists following the tragic killing of nine American citizens from a Mormon community in Mexico.
However, he changed his mind after a heartfelt request from the former Mexican President, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.