Donald Trump puts gender ‘madness’ on front line of US culture wars
Donald Trump says US laws will recognise just two genders if he’s elected president again, as he anticipates a challenge in US culture wars from right-wing candidates.
Donald Trump has vowed to pass legislation that recognises only two genders under US law if he is elected president as he seeks to shore up his conservative base and outflank rival candidates on the right of the Republican Party.
In a video statement on his Truth Social platform, the former president said that if elected again in 2024, he would “ask Congress to pass a bill establishing that the only two genders recognised by the United States government are male and female, and they are assigned at birth”.
Trump, 76, added that he would ban transgender women from competing in women’s sports and outlaw gender transition without parental consent.
“No serious country should be telling its children that they were born with the wrong gender, a concept that was never heard of in all of human history,” Trump said, blaming the “radical left” for inventing the concept “just a few years ago”.
“Under my leadership this madness will end,” the former president added.
The statement marks Trump’s strongest attack yet on transgender rights as he anticipates a challenge in the conservative culture war from right-wing candidates, including Florida governor Ron DeSantis.
Trump’s political operation has showed signs of struggling, however.
CNN reported that the former president’s campaign had raised $US9.5 million ($13.3 million) in donations over the six weeks since he announced his candidacy in mid-November, less than the $US11.8 million brought in over the six weeks before it.
Some big Republican donors, eager to move on from Trump, are believed to have thrown their weight behind DeSantis, urging the Florida governor to challenge the former president.
The Times
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