Whenever you peruse the Twitter feed of a Donald Trump diehard, more often than not that you’re going to find something stupid, ignorant, or just plain wrong. Right-wing commentator Tomi Lahren usually serves up all three.
A textbook example came when she danced a jig over Trump’s announcement that transgender Americans were no longer welcome in the military. But when she tried to use the occasion to take a swipe at Barack Obama, she was quickly put in her place by one of Trump’s biggest gadflies outside the States, J. K. Rowling.
In case you missed it, on Wednesday morning Trump fired off a three-tweet edict closing the military’s doors to the transgender community.
After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow……
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017
….Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017
….victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017
It came as no surprise that the religious right was overjoyed. After all, this is a hefty payment on the massive political debt that Trump owes the religious right for his unexpected victory. But few were as excited about it as Lahren. She fired off a tweetstorm praising Trump for his decision.
The military is not a social experiment. Finally a POTUS who understands the concept. Political correctness=intellectual dishonesty!
— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) July 26, 2017
Pres Trump dedicated to putting radical Muslims in graves whereas Pres Obama was dedicated to putting men in the ladies room. #MAGA
— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) July 26, 2017
The military is not about the wants of the individual, it's about the mission. Taxpayers should not be on the hook for hormone treatment!! https://t.co/cJWFu5BSmb
— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) July 26, 2017
The military isn't like any other job and it's NOT about feelings and political correctness! https://t.co/vc0BVjUVNZ
— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) July 26, 2017
It was the second of those tweets that got Rowling’s attention. The “Harry Potter” creator had little time for Lahren’s revisionist history, and let that be known with typical British bluntness.
Truly, whom amongst us can forget Trump ordering the killing of bin Laden? Or Obama bragging about barging in on naked beauty contestants? pic.twitter.com/1veorstvA0
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) July 27, 2017
Rowling was referring to how Trump openly boasted that, as owner of the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants, he had the right to walk in on contestants while they were changing. It was a perfect counterpoint to the transphobic shibboleth Lahren used–“no men in women’s bathrooms or dressing rooms.” Even allowing for the error in grammar (“who,” not “whom”), this was brutal.
Tellingly, Lahren didn’t respond. But at least two other Trump diehards did–and got similar treatment.
Eliminates funding for UN Population Fund, withdraws from Paris climate Agreement, publicly undermines NATO, leaks Israeli intelligence… pic.twitter.com/ziGSHKoImw
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) July 27, 2017
… cosies up to dictators and strongmen, criticizes longstanding allies. Trump might be your shame, but he’s the whole world’s problem. pic.twitter.com/T7cdRG2HmI
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) July 27, 2017
I'll end my presidential campaign right now if you stop writing. pic.twitter.com/8OCXALh0Al
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) July 27, 2017
Rowling also joined in on VoteVets’ trolling of the Trump announcement.
.@POTUS, can you my spot the transgender troops in this photo? They're there, I promise. pic.twitter.com/XHGdQ6MjWl
— VoteVets (@votevets) July 26, 2017
As it turned out, the Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that it can’t implement Trump’s edict–at least, not yet–because a tweet is not the same as a formal order.
As of Thursday night, there’s no word on that from Lahren. Maybe it’s because she knows that if she does open her mouth on this, Rowling will shut it for her again.
(featured image courtesy Rowling’s Facebook)
