Vivek Ramaswamy says he wouldn't ban transgender military members

Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, a 2024 Republican presidential candidate, said Sunday that he would not ban transgender people from joining the military.

When asked on ABC's "This Week" whether he would reinstate former President Donald Trump's ban on transgender military members, Ramaswamy said: "I would not reinstate a ban on transgender members. I would, however, be very clear that for kids, that's where my policies are very focused. We should not be foisting this ideology onto children."

Reporter Martha Raddatz followed up, "But you would not ban transgender members of the military?"

"I would not," Ramaswamy responded.

One of the first initiatives under the Biden administration was to repeal directives issued by Trump restricting the enlistment of transgender individuals. 

Biden administration's 2021 policy "ensures that no person, solely based on his or her gender identity, will be denied accession into the Army; involuntarily separated or discharged from the Army; denied reenlistment or continuation of service; or subjected to adverse action or mistreatment," according to the Army's website.

It appears that Ramaswamy is the first 2024 GOP candidate to publicly support transgender military members.

Madeleine Hubbard is an international correspondent for Just the News. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.