The recently confirmed secretary of the Navy says he will follow any order the president gives on transgender troops, but that “any patriot” should be allowed to serve.
“We will process and take direction of a policy that is developed by the [Defense] secretary [with] direction from the president and march out smartly,” Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer told reporters Thursday night after visiting Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia.
“On a fundamental basis, any patriot that wants to serve and meets all the requirements should be able to serve in our military.”
Spencer was confirmed a week after President Trump tweeted that he plans to ban transgender people from serving in the military.
On Thursday, Trump said he thinks he’s “doing the military a great favor” by banning transgender troops.
