Madonna has voiced her opposition to the actions of the Donald Trump administration, particularly regarding its executive orders that affect marginalised groups, including the LGBTQ+ community. The pop icon took to her X account (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, expressing her concerns in the wake of Trump’s recent decision to reinstate a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military. This order, titled “Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness,” was signed by Trump on Monday and effectively reverses a 2021 directive from President Joe Biden that had allowed transgender people to enlist and serve openly.
“It’s so sad to watch our new Government slowly dismantling all the Freedoms we have been fighting for and WON over the years,” Madonna shared, punctuating her statement with a display of the LGBTQ pride flag and broken heart emojis. She concluded her message with a call to action: “Don’t give up the Fight!”
The renewed military policy is part of a broader trend in which Trump has rolled back various diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives within just the first week of his return to the presidency. Madonna’s advocacy for LGBTQ rights can be traced back several decades; she has been an outspoken supporter since the 1980s, particularly during the HIV/AIDS crisis. In recognition of her lasting impact, she received the Advocate for Change Award at the 30th annual GLAAD Media Awards in 2019.
In a related statement, Sarah Kate Ellis, the president and CEO of GLAAD, commented on the implications of Trump’s executive order, asserting that “Transgender people are already serving in the military with honour and keeping our country and military safer and stronger.” She emphasised that these individuals meet the same rigorous health and readiness standards, countering the “inaccurate statements and rhetoric” that seem to target them without empirical basis. She added, “LGBTQ Americans have been here before, ending ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ and Trump’s previous trans military ban. Research and military experts have made it loud and clear that targeting service members because of who they are is blatantly discriminatory and makes our country less safe.”
Further highlighting the celebrity response to Trump’s policies, singer Selena Gomez also publicly expressed her frustration regarding the administration’s stance on undocumented immigrants. In a now-deleted Instagram video, she became emotional as she lamented the situation, saying, “All my people are getting attacked … the children. I don’t understand.” With tears in her eyes, she added, “I’m so sorry. I wish I could do something but I can’t. I don’t know what to do. I’ll try everything, I promise.”
As public figures like Madonna and Gomez speak out, the discourse surrounding these issues within the LGBTQ community and beyond continues to evolve, reflecting both the challenges and resilience present in contemporary society.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://tribune.com.pk/story/2525163/madonna-slams-donald-trumps-administration-for-undermining-lgbtq-rights-and-freedoms – This article supports Madonna’s criticism of the Trump administration’s actions against LGBTQ+ rights, including the reinstatement of a ban on transgender individuals in the military.
- https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/25/executive-order-on-enabling-all-qualified-americans-to-serve-their-country-in-uniform/ – This link provides information on President Joe Biden’s 2021 directive allowing transgender people to serve openly in the military, which was reversed by Trump’s recent order.
- https://www.glaad.org/releases/glaad-media-awards-30-advocate-change-award-madonna – This page details Madonna’s receipt of the Advocate for Change Award at the 30th annual GLAAD Media Awards, highlighting her long-standing support for LGBTQ rights.
- https://www.glaad.org/blog/transgender-military-ban – This GLAAD blog post discusses the implications of Trump’s executive order on transgender military service, aligning with Sarah Kate Ellis’s comments on the issue.
- https://www.glaad.org/releases/statement-glaad-president-sarah-kate-ellis-trump-administration-transgender-military-ban – This statement from GLAAD President Sarah Kate Ellis addresses the discriminatory nature of Trump’s transgender military ban and its impact on national security.
- https://www.hrc.org/resources/transgender-military-service – This Human Rights Campaign resource provides background information on the history and challenges of transgender military service in the U.S.
- https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/01/27/transgender-military-service/ – This Pew Research article discusses public opinions and policy changes regarding transgender individuals in the military.
- https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/14/politics/trump-transgender-military-ban/index.html – This CNN article provides context on Trump’s previous stance on transgender military service and the legal challenges it faced.
- https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/trump-reinstates-transgender-military-ban-rcna72571 – This NBC News article reports on Trump’s decision to reinstate the ban on transgender individuals in the military, aligning with Madonna’s concerns.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
2
Notes:
The narrative references past actions by the Trump administration, which suggests it may be based on older news. The Trump administration is no longer in power, and recent developments are not mentioned.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
Madonna’s quote appears to be original to this context, but without a specific timestamp or original source, it’s difficult to verify its first appearance. Sarah Kate Ellis’s statement seems to be part of a broader response to Trump’s policies, but specific original sources are not provided.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from The Hollywood Reporter, a well-established and reputable publication in the entertainment industry. However, the reliability of specific quotes and statements depends on their original sources.
Plausability check
Score:
6
Notes:
The claims about Trump’s policies and celebrity reactions are plausible given historical context. However, the narrative lacks recent updates or evidence to support its relevance to current events.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative appears to be based on past events and lacks recent updates, which affects its freshness. Quotes seem original but lack specific sources. The source is reliable, but plausibility is moderate due to the lack of current context.
