Díaz: Transgender soldiers are paying for the border wall with Mexico

President Donald Trump insists Mexico will foot the bill to build his border wall, but this week the ones paying the price for it are transgender Americans.

What the heck do transgender Americans have to do with a border wall with Mexico? Turns out a lot — $1.6 billion to be exact.

They’ve reportedly become the bargaining chip in congressional wrangling over funding for the wall and the Pentagon paying for sex-change operations.

Tossed under the bus for funding

The president, who had previously vowed to protect the LGBT community, didn’t blink twice before tossing transgender people to ensure congressional votes for border wall-funding, according to a detailed Politico story.

Apparently, some GOP House lawmakers don’t want federal dollars to go toward paying the cost of sex-change operations and were using the border wall funding to get their way.

Trump’s response? Ban all transgender people from military service. The president reportedly shocked even some of those pushing to prohibit tax dollars for transgender medical treatment.

Careful what you wish for with Trump

The lessons here? Be careful what you wish for because with Trump you’ll likely get it – sometimes tenfold.

And nobody is safe under the Trump administration.

You support Trump? Let me tell you something. He won’t think twice to toss out the stuff you care about, like jobs and health care, if it serves his immediate purpose.

Transgender people are now banned from joining the military and defending our country. So who will be Trump’s next target?

We’ve learned enough to know it could be anyone.

Elvia Díaz is an editorial columnist for The Republic and azcentral. Reach her at 602-444-8606 or elvia.diaz@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter, @elviadiaz1.

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