In an emotional CNN interview, a transgender naval officer repeatedly refused to criticize Commander and Chief Donald Trump, despite Trump's threatening to end the careers of transgender service members.
"We've already been serving for over a year – openly since June of 2016 – we've caused no disruptions, there's been no readiness issues, we continue to deploy," Lt. Commander Blake Dremann explained to CNN's Jake Tapper. "We are company commanders, special operators, drill sergeants, who are continuing to do the mission."
The naval officer, who has served for over a decade, repeatedly declined opportunities to criticize Donald Trump.
"If it's being done for political reasons, then that's not really my realm to delve into," he stated.
"As a member of the military, we support and defend the Constitution, and I will not criticize his words or his actions with regard to the military, publicly," Lt. Cdr. Blake reminded. "So I have to believe that he wants the best for the military and this is just really bad advice."
Though he refused to characterize the politics or motivations, he did explain the simplicity of the issue.
"Being transgender is a medical issue that can be treated and that's what we've done," Lt. Cdr. Blake explained. "If a medical issue comes up while we're already actively serving, we treat it and we go back to serving, just like anybody else."
"To think that we are suddenly out of a job based on bad information is ... unkind," Lt. Cdr. Blake concluded.
