The White House didn't want to talk about the transgender ban, so it just read a letter from a child instead
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders introduced a new, very conveniently timed feature to her press briefing Wednesday.
Only hours after Donald Trump announced a plan to ban transgender people from the military, she kicked off a new "process" that entails reading emails and letters sent to the White House.
SEE ALSO: In three tweets, Trump bans trans people from military service
The letter was from 9-year-old Dylan, aka Pickles, a big Trump fan whose birthday was Trump-themed. The letter is from June 1 — nearly two months ago.
Sanders read it at the briefing and answered the questions as best she could (video above).
Dylan aka Pickle thank you for your letter and hope to meet you soon! pic.twitter.com/XZlJARZ9cs
— Sarah Huckabee (@SarahHuckabee) July 26, 2017
The obvious avoidance tactic didn't really fly.
This is some North Korea shit https://t.co/DpHZZ0Ec2Z
— Lauren Duca (@laurenduca) July 26, 2017
And some even questioned the veracity of the letter and Dylan. Some suggested the letter writer might be connected to Trump's mysterious friend, Jim.
Is anyone concerned that Donald Trump wrote a letter to the White House as his 9 year old alter ego “Pickle."
— colbyhall (@colbyhall) July 26, 2017
Dylan must be "Jim's" kid.
— MeganKelleyHall (@MeganKelleyHall) July 26, 2017
Real or not, Dylan also apparently wants to know how much money Trump is hiding 🤔 https://t.co/SD8fAc8XHA
— Sean O'Kane (@sokane1) July 26, 2017
Once Dylan's letter got so much attention, other letters started popping up.
my wonderful son Borłt has written his own letter to the president pic.twitter.com/PbO5WAeSIG
— gabaguber am outside (@jimpjorps) July 26, 2017
Since this seems to be the only way to get Trump to listen, I wrote my own letter to the president. pic.twitter.com/wd1e4ZGh8r
— Santos L. Halper (@dansamiljan) July 26, 2017
Omg I just found another letter written by young Dylan! pic.twitter.com/tEJzReMf54
— Logan Smith (@LoganJames) July 26, 2017
Sanders only read the one letter, but it was clear she really didn't want to deal with the press after her boss tweeted this:
After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow......
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017
....Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming.....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017
....victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017
(The U.S. military actually spends five times more on Viagra than it does on transgender medical services.)
She started the briefing more than 30 minutes after its scheduled start time and abruptly ended it because of a previously scheduled event with the president.
She did take several questions about the tweets and military ban and provided some limited information, but at one point said she had nothing more to say about the topic and threatened to end the briefing.
JUST IN: White House has no plan yet to carry out transgender ban. "That's something the Dept of Def and the WH will have to work out"
— Kevin Baron (@DefenseBaron) July 26, 2017
So, very few details and a letter from a child. Seems about right.
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