Defense Secretary James Mattis was being hailed as a hero on social media for defying President Donald Trump's order banning transgender individuals from serving in the military.
Except, Mattis did not defy the president; he was simply complying with Trump's order to review the impact on transgenders already serving, The Washington Post reported.
Mattis' order Tuesday said transgender military members could continue to serve pending the results of a study. That's in compliance with Trump's Aug. 25 order to Mattis.
"The Secretary of Defense … shall determine how to address transgender individuals currently serving in the United States military. Until the Secretary has made that determination, no action may be taken against such individuals," Trump wrote in the order.
Mattis is on board with the president banning transgender recruits from joining the military.
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