Published on January 2, 2024, 1:12 am

Former President Donald Trump took a strong stand against Governor Mike DeWine (R-OH) following his veto of legislation aimed to prohibit transgender surgeries for minors. The public critique came just 24 hours after DeWine nullified the law that would have created barriers not only for gender altering procedures on individuals under the age of 18, but also would have prevented boys from participating in girls’ sports offerings. Trump, backed by a Republican supermajority in Ohio’s Legislature, urged lawmakers to swiftly overturn the governor’s veto.

In a post shared via Truth Social, Trump harshly criticized DeWine’s decision stating, “DeWine has succumbed to the agenda of the Radical Left. It’s no surprise that his appearance at rallies elicits loud disapproval from Ohioans every time I introduce him — a tradition I’ll no longer honor. As far as I’m concerned we’re done with this indistinguishable character. His choice raises questions around what he truly believes was gained by blocking this legislation that sought to halt child mutilation and put an end to men partaking in women’s sporting events. Hopefully, with some expedience, our legislature can carry out an effective override.”

Despite these tensions heightened after the 2020 election results unfolded, Trump remained supportive of DeWine’s reelection campaign in 2022. However, it seems conservative criticisms around his COVID response resulted in less than half of Republican voters favoring him during primary elections.

The contentious veto decision led DeWine to defend himself at a press conference where he expressed concerns about governmental overreach into parental rights should the bill have ultimately become law. Such justification however has been received with skepticism among Ohio Republicans and even Senator J.D Vance voiced criticism.

Countering DeWine’s parental rights argument, Vance commented on X stating: “This is more or less empty rhetoric rather than true justification for such an action. The legal system rightfully restricts certain actions towards minors, regardless of whether their parents approve or not. This superficial argument neglects the intense pressure by interest groups and pharmaceutical companies to readily permit poorly understood procedures of irreversible nature. I’m extremely disappointed in the governor’s decision and hope it will be reversed.”

The now vetoed legislation would have outright barred procedures such as mastectomies for girls identifying as boys and administering cross sex hormones along with puberty blockers to minors. These controversial interventions have been associated with stunted bone growth, compromised fertility, and cardiac issues.

Promising to prioritize child protection, Trump has committed to advocating for a nationwide prohibition against transgender procedures, labeling them as “child abuse” and “child sexual mutilation.” By consistently delivering real news from a trusted news perspective influenced by Christian worldview, we keep our readers informed about breaking news events shaping the world around us.