Former President Donald Trump has again claimed, falsely, that schools are secretly providing gender-affirming surgeries to children, sparking backlash against his transphobic, fear-mongering and frankly ridiculous rhetoric.
The Republican nominee went off on a tangent about “pushing transgender ideology on minor children” during a rally in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday.
“Your child goes to school and they take your child. It was a he and comes back a she. And they do this. And they do it, and often without parental consent,” he said.
The absurd claim was denounced by his critics on social media, who called it “ugly,” “hateful” and an “absolutely demented lie.”
Trump: Your child goes to school and they take your child. It was a he and comes back a she. And they do this. And often without parental consent. pic.twitter.com/Ycm4bAMt1g
— Acyn (@Acyn) October 9, 2024
Trump has made versions of that claim on several occasions.
“Can you imagine you’re a parent and your son leaves the house and you say, ‘Jimmy, I love you so much, go have a good day in school,’ and your son comes back with a brutal operation? Can you even imagine this? What the hell is wrong with our country?” Trump said at a rally in Wisconsin last month.
As a CNN fact check pointed out in September, any gender-affirming medical care legally requires the consent of both parents or guardians of a person under 18. There is no evidence that any U.S. schools have obtained gender-affirming surgeries for children without parental knowledge, and the Trump campaign was unable to substantiate the former president’s claim when contacted by CNN.
Trump’s latest use of the lie attracted responses from prominent critics such as the conservative attorney George Conway, MSNBC host Katie Phang and former Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.).
Some parents who reacted said they were more concerned about their children not returning from school at all thanks to Republican resistance to creating safer gun laws. Others pointed out that children need parental consent for even the most minor medical support from school staff.
See some of the reactions below:
At some point perhaps the MSM should focus on whether this guy has some sort of mental condition that makes him a pathological liar on a level that no one else in our political history has ever approached, and that maybe this goes to whether he’d make a good president? https://t.co/tdEABarg6D
— George Conway (@gtconway3d) October 10, 2024
For the 10th time, this deeply sick & twisted psychotic maniac tells this ABSOLUTELY DEMENTED LIE, that no one remotely sane could think is true. And none of his enablers apparently can tell him how off the charts insane and delusional this is.
And the MSM will pass over this. https://t.co/myGciaZSyE
— Spiro’s Ghost (@AntiToxicPeople) October 10, 2024
They wouldn’t even give my daughter Motrin without my consent. I can’t count the times I had to leave work to go up to the school and give her some fucking Motrin, but sure, they can give her major surgery without consent.
You’re weapons-grade stupid if you believe this shit. https://t.co/II512jKTO3
— Jax Persists (@LadyJayPersists) October 10, 2024
The prospect of this psychotic demented old fool regaining the presidency again with the Cabinet he has in mind is basically a CAT 5 heading for the Constitution. https://t.co/3OOw8j90bK
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) October 10, 2024
It really is worthwhile to emphasize that this particular scenario is entirely fictional, and happens nowhere outside of certain fevered imaginations. https://t.co/hIhIaiTBTE
— Mike Rothschild (no relation) (@rothschildmd) October 10, 2024
1) Name the schools where this is happening.
2) I’m more concerned about my kids not coming home from a school mass shooting due to the cavalier approach of the GOP regarding lax gun laws.
— Charli Huxley (@ImKnotTheOne) October 10, 2024
It’s amazing what incredible surgeons these school nurses are! Sex change operations in one afternoon! Those other dudes are way overpaid.
So, the next time you need brain surgery, or whatever, consult your nearest school nurse!
— Jeffrey Brendecke (@jbrend300) October 10, 2024
Do youse have any idea how many pages of signatures and initials I had to do for my son’s school to give him a freaking flu shot this week? Nobody’s school is doing entire secret surgeries omg get a grip https://t.co/fN8Sx5CYwG
— Rachel Figueroa 🐝🐝🐝🌻🌻🍄 (@Jewyorican) October 10, 2024
