Apple, Google and Facebook CEOs slam Trump’s transgender military ban
By QUEENIE WONG
US President Donald Trump gestures during the National Boy Scout Jamboree at Summit Bechtel National Scout Reserve in Glen Jean, West Virginia, July 24, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that transgender people will no longer be able to serve in the U.S. military, sparking an outcry from some of the world’s largest tech firms.
Executives from Apple, Facebook, Google and Twitter took to social media to denounce the ban, which some labeled as discrimination.
“We are indebted to all who serve. Discrimination against anyone holds everyone back,” tweeted Apple CEO Tim Cook.
Trump tweeted that he came to the decision after consulting with military experts and generals.
“Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail,” he tweeted.
But some tech CEOs disagreed with Trump’s decision.
“Everyone should be able to serve their country — no matter who they are,” wrote Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg in a Facebook post.
Other tech executives, including Google CEO Sundar Pichai and YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, tweeted that they were grateful for the transgender members of the military.
“Discrimination in any form is wrong for all of us,” tweeted Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey.
It was the latest clash between the Trump administration and Silicon Valley tech companies and executives, who also spoke out against the president’s executive order that barred visitors from six Muslim-majority countries. In June, the Supreme Court allowed parts of the ban to move forward.
More than 50 tech companies also joined a legal brief in support of transgender rights after a transgender student in Virginia was denied access to the boy’s bathroom. The Supreme Court decided not to hear the case in March, sending it back to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.
We are indebted to all who serve. Discrimination against anyone holds everyone back. #LetThemServe
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) July 26, 2017
I am grateful to the transgender members of the military for their service. # LetThemServe.
— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) July 26, 2017
Transgender rights are human rights. Grateful to the many transgender veterans & service members of the armed forces https://t.co/agHgLvMWo3
— Susan Wojcicki (@SusanWojcicki) July 26, 2017
Discrimination in any form is wrong for all of us #LetThemServe https://t.co/3cxL0fNdbv
— jack (@jack) July 26, 2017
#equalityforall pic.twitter.com/0odEdQ2aUR
— Marc Benioff (@Benioff) July 26, 2017
What an unbelievably horrible policy that will quickly be overturned by the next President. Is there truly no moderating force in the WH?
— Aaron Levie (@levie) July 26, 2017
Trans kids, soldiers etc need our support today and to know they are valued & respected regardless of politics. Let us not be divided.
— Max Levchin (@mlevchin) July 26, 2017
2/ These patriotic Americans deserve to be honored and respected, not turned away because of who they are.
— Uber Comms (@Uber_Comms) July 26, 2017
We @SurveyMonkey believe inclusivity drives success and stand with transgender individuals #transrightsarehumanrights
— zander lurie (@zlurie) July 26, 2017