'See You at SCOTUS!': Hegseth erupts after Obama-appointed judge halts Trump's trans military ban

Added: 2026-06-03

[00:00:16]A major legal setback for the Trump administration's transgender military policy could now be headed straight to the Supreme Court. In a sweeping 107-page ruling, a federal appeals court partially blocked the administration's controversial military ban targeting transgender service members, finding that key parts of the policy likely violate constitutional protections.

[00:00:41]The decision is being viewed as one of the most significant legal challenges yet to war secretary Pete Hegseth's efforts to reshape military standards under President Trump's second term.

[00:00:53]The court specifically took aim at what judges described as a broad and largely unsupported policy that bars military service based on any history of gender dysphoria, even if that condition existed years ago and has no impact on a service member's current readiness.

[00:01:11]According to the ruling, the government failed to provide sufficient evidence showing why such a sweeping exclusion was necessary for military effectiveness.

[00:01:21]Judges also raised concerns that the policy may be motivated, at least in part, by bias against transgender individuals rather than objective military requirements. The court noted that government actions cannot be justified simply by a desire to target a politically unpopular group.

[00:01:41]The Trump administration argues the policy is solely about military readiness.

[00:01:46]Officials say gender dysphoria and related medical treatments can affect deployability, unit cohesion, and overall operational effectiveness.

[00:01:57]But the court concluded that those concerns do not justify banning individuals who have no active condition and who have already demonstrated the ability to serve successfully.

[00:02:08]The ruling also highlighted language in administration memos and policy documents that allegedly portrayed transgender individuals as lacking honesty, integrity, and humility.

[00:02:21]Statements the court said were unsupported by evidence. One of the biggest consequences of the decision is that active duty transgender troops are protected for now.

[00:02:32]Judges said these troops would suffer immediate and irreparable harm if expelled, including the loss of military careers, benefits, and constitutional protections.

[00:02:42]Importantly, however, the recruitment ban remains in place.

[00:02:47]That means the Pentagon can still restrict transgender individuals from newly enlisting while the case moves through the courts.

[00:02:55]The ruling also marks a sharp contrast with Trump's first-term military policy.

[00:03:01]The earlier Mattis era policy allowed certain transgender individuals to continue serving under specific conditions and largely protected those already in uniform. The new 2025 directive goes much further, applying restrictions retroactively and eliminating many previous exceptions.

[00:03:20]The case now returns to the district court, but legal experts widely expect the fight to continue.

[00:03:27]And judging by War Secretary Pete Hegseth's immediate reaction on social media, a simple message reading, "See you at SCOTUS." The administration appears ready for the next battle.

[00:03:39]With constitutional questions, military readiness concerns, and transgender rights all colliding, this case could soon become the Supreme Court's next major showdown.

[00:03:49]>> When President Trump asked me to take this job, he told me well, one key thing, but really two.

[00:03:57]The first was um "Pete, you're going to have to be tough as shit."

[00:04:14]"They're going to come after you."

[00:04:18]Boy, he was not kidding about that one.

[00:04:21]Uh this job requires a steel spine, and that's fine. My job's easy compared to what you do.

[00:04:28]We're doing the work on behalf of the American people and American warfighter.

[00:04:33]But then the president, after he said that, went on to say, "I need you, and I want you to restore the warrior ethos in our military, full stop."

[00:04:42]And that's been my first priority since day one is restoring the warrior ethos.

[00:04:48]It's one of the most fundamental of those three objectives.

[00:04:51]Again, humans more important than hardware. Everything starts and ends with warriors from training to the battlefield. We are leaving wokeness and weakness behind.

[00:05:05]No more pronouns, no more climate change obsession, no more emergency vaccine mandates, no more dudes in dresses.

[00:05:18]We're done with that >> [applause] [cheering] [applause] >> We're focused on lethality, meritocracy, accountability, standards, and readiness.

[00:05:36]That's why since election day, since President Trump was elected, recruitment and retention numbers are up historically.

[00:05:44]Attracting military service is something Americans have long been attracted to, but more so when they see leadership they want to follow.

[00:05:52]They want to be in disciplined formations that value them not for immutable differences, not for the color of our skin or gender, but because of honor and integrity and grit and patriotism.

[00:06:06]They want a meritocracy where they can work hard, make themselves better, kick ass and rise up.

[00:06:12]They're looking for adventure, camaraderie, risk, danger.

[00:06:17]They want to push themselves and test themselves against others. They want to flourish in an environment that embraces hard work, discipline, and the warrior ethos.

[00:06:29]Special operators know a thing or two about all of those.

[00:06:34]Um I've experienced it firsthand across the world. I have had a chance to get up and do PT with the troops often times when we're traveling. And some people think it's a novelty.

[00:06:45]Um it's it's not. It's always been a basic part of military service. You get up early, you get up and you work out because we're going to be fit and we're not going to be fat. And even if the SecDef has a little bit of time to do it, every troop has an opportunity to do it. The problem is it went from let's do PT with the troops to every special operations group in the world trying to smoke the SecDef.

[00:07:12]I find myself almost blacking out by the end of the workout.

[00:07:16]And then having to hand out coins and try to stay right ways up.

[00:07:21]Appreciate that.

[00:07:25]You, this group, have long been the standard bearers of what it means to be an American warrior.

[00:07:31]An exclusive club where the cost of membership is commitment, toughness, courage, grit paired with accountability, intelligence, and skill.

[00:07:45]At times, and this is a a key thing and something we've seen firsthand, when the broader force has strayed from the path, has strayed from sanity, has strayed from standards, you have been keepers of the flame.

[00:08:03]So, it's great to see so many outstanding leaders this morning who embody that warrior ethos. General Fenton, thank you for your courage, your determination, and your grit showing your forces what right looks like.

[00:08:17]And of course, uh Command Sergeant Major Shorter, the real boss of SOCOM, thanks for leading your troops and demonstrating that the US military strategic advantage lies in the strength, and it's true, of our NCO corps.