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When Donald Trump announced a new ban on transgender members in the U.S. military Wednesday, he claimed in the first of three tweets that hed [consulted] with my generals and military experts before making the decision. According to the general response from Defense Department officials and Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, however, they had no idea the presidents ban was coming. A new report by The Daily Beast instead hints that the so-called generals and military experts behind the new policy were actually Vice President Mike Pence and Chief Strategist Steve Bannon.

Per The Daily Beast, White House sources claim Pence has been pushing hard for this kind of policy shift in the military for some time. So too, unsurprisingly, has former Breitbart executive turned Trump campaign chairman Steve Bannon, who now serves on the White House staff. Whats more, another source indicated that the transgender ban would do well with his base, especially leaders of Christian far-right groups and socially-conservative voters. Considering Trumps recent campaign rally in Ohio (and others prior, though following his November election victory), this doesnt seem all that surprising.

It sure as hell surprised officials at the Pentagon, the Defense Department and the Senate Armed Services Committee, all of whom are typically informed of major policy shifts in advance. According to the Wall Street Journal, one official said Trumps Wednesday morning tweets [were] the first we heard about it. Though thats not to say they didnt know the White House was considering it, as Defense Secretary Jim Mattis asked the administration for six months to study the possible effects of transgender military enlistment back in June. Even so, as one official explained it to the New York Times, Mattis request didnt hinge on an eventual ban, but merely time to finesse the situation.

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Report: Mike Pence Is The Driving Force Behind Trump's Transgender Ban For The US Military - UPROXX