The Associated Press wrongly tweeted Monday that the Pentagon was defying President Trump with its decision to allow transgender individuals to serve in the military beginning Jan.1.
The tweet refers to a decision by U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, who declined to lift an injunction she issued in October delaying the implementation of the transgender ban.
The Trump administration had argued it needed more time to prepare to process new transgender recruits.
The Pentagon was following a court order, not acting in defiance of Trump.
BREAKING: Pentagon says it will allow transgender people to enlist in the military beginning Jan. 1, despite Trump's opposition.
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 11, 2017
Others in the media took the AP at its word and retweeted the inaccurate tweet.
Dept. of Defense defies the President https://t.co/Da2H7f2Fl6
— West Wing Reports (@WestWingReport) December 11, 2017
Others with more legal knowledge called out the AP for the tweet.
Just confirmed with the lead lawyer on this case: This tweet is WRONG. The Pentagon will *respect a court order* requiring transgender enlistment on Jan. 1. That's it. The order will likely be appealed before then. https://t.co/dL0F9fKCYE
— Mark Joseph Stern (@mjs_DC) December 11, 2017
….because a federal judge just refused the Trump administration's emergency request to delay transgender enlistments. Important context missing below. Pentagon isn't defying Trump, it's following court orders. https://t.co/IQd30kKhRi
— Vera Bergengruen (@VeraMBergen) December 11, 2017
A federal judge ordered the Pentagon to do so, and just rejected a motion to stay the order this afternoon—framing this as the military refusing the Commander in Chief’s directives is grossly irresponsible. https://t.co/mWy21q4eOL
— James Hasson (@JamesHasson20) December 11, 2017
The AP has let the tweet stand.
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