Washington:

US President Donald Trump will issue a series of executive orders targeting diversity programs and gender identity policies Monday, using his inauguration speech to signal a definitive break with what he decries as “woke” culture.

On the campaign trail Trump railed against diversity, equity and inclusion policies in the federal government and corporate world, saying they discriminated against white people — men in particular.

He also demonized any recognition of gender diversity, attacking transgender people — notably transgender women in sports — and gender-affirming care for children.

In his inauguration speech at the US Capitol, Trump said “as of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female.”

An incoming White House official told reporters ahead of the presidential inauguration Trump will order the US government to end federal diversity programs.

“I will also end the government policy of trying to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life,” Trump said in his inauguration speech, calling the new moves a “revolution of common sense.”

The policies will almost certainly face legal challenges.

In practical terms going forward, official documents would be forced to “reflect sex accurately,” the official said, without stating whether that meant gender assigned at birth.

“No longer will the federal government be promoting gender ideology,” the official said.

The government would also only recognize two genders — male and female — ending official policies that recognized a third gender, denoted by an “X” on US passports for example.

‘Incontrovertible reality’

The official did not specify any clear policies on gender transitions — but did suggest that genders assigned at birth could not be changed.

“These are sexes that are not changeable, and they are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality,” they said.

The government would also immediately move to curtail programs that sought to redress historical inequality but that Trump has insisted disadvantage white people, particularly men.

“The Department of Treasury — this is a little while ago now — included diversity training that said all white people, regardless of how woke they are, contribute to racism. So this type of funding, we’re going to end at these (diversity) programs. We’re going to end that,” the official said.

They added that the incoming administration would move to “terminate all discriminatory programs” while also seeking out civil service roles linked to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion that had been renamed by the Biden administration in an effort to protect them from Trump’s axe.

“This includes environmental justice programs, equity related grants, equity action plans, equity initiatives, these types of things,” the Trump official said.

Transgender fear

Ahead of the election, Trump planned to “ask Congress to pass a bill establishing that the only genders recognized by the US government are male and female, and they are assigned at birth,” his political program stated.

He had also promised to ban gender-affirming care for minors and to take legal action against any doctors and educators who carry out or enable the practice.

Many in the queer community were alarmed by the election of Trump following a campaign in which the Republican put attacks on trans people and their rights front and center.

The LGBT National Help Center has been receiving about 2,000 calls per day since the election results, instead of the usual 300, according to its director Aaron Almanza.

Anti-trans rhetoric was a mainstay of Trump’s campaign rallies, drawing huge cheers from crowds fired up by the Republican’s false claims that children were being forced to undergo gender reassignment, among other lies.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Donald Trump, who is set to return to the White House after his victory over Kamala Harris in the November 5 US presidential elections, has appointed former Democrat Tulsi Gabbard as his US Intelligence Chief. The 78-year-old leader has secured all seven swing states, including Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Nevada.

On Wednesday evening (IST), Trump met President Joe Biden in the Oval Office of the White House where Biden welcomed Trump and congratulated him following his victory, saying that he looks forward to a smooth transition.”Congratulations, looking forward to having a, like we said, smooth transition — do everything we can to make sure you’re accommodated, and what you need. And we’re going to get a chance to talk about some of that today,” Biden said in the meeting with Trump.

Here are live updates on Donald Trump’s return to White House:

Florida:

Donald Trump is safe following gunshots in his vicinity, the Republican presidential candidate’s team said today. “President Trump is safe following gunshots in his vicinity. No further details at this time,” campaign spokespersom Steven Cheung said a statement.

The shooting took place at Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida. A “person of interest” has been detained along with a weapon, the New York Times reported, citing local law enforcement officials.

Trump had been golfing when the gunshots were heard, multiple media reports said. Trump had been accompanied at the time by his Secret Service protective detail when shots were fired.

It was unclear who the shooter or shooters were, or what the motive was. There was no immediate indication that Trump had been targeted.  Media outlet CNN, citing security agency own sources, reported that officials believed the shots at the golf club were indeed intended for Trump.

The former US president’s son Donald Trump Jr. said that authorities also found an AK-47 rifle in the bushes, extremely close to the spot from where Trump was leaving.

“Again folks! SHOTS FIRED at Trump Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Florida. An AK-47 was discovered in the bushes, per local law enforcement,” he said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Again folks!

SHOTS FIRED at Trump Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Florida.

An AK-47 was discovered in the bushes, per local law enforcement. The Trump campaign has released a statement confirming former President Trump is safe.

A suspect has reportedly been apprehended. pic.twitter.com/FwRfrO3v6y

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) September 15, 2024

The White House quickly issued a statement saying both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump’s Democratic rival in the November elections, had been briefed about the incident.

“They are relieved to know that he is safe,” the statement said.

The shooting comes just two months after the former president was wounded in the ear when a gunman opened fire during a Trump rally in Pennsylvania.

The US Secret Service, tasked with protecting presidents, former presidents and other dignitaries, faced criticism after the Pennsylvania incident.

Kimberly Cheatle, the head of the agency, resigned amid the ensuing scrutiny, and at least five Secret Service agents were placed on administrative leave.

Two members of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s campaign staff had a “verbal and physical altercation” with an Arlington National Cemetery official during a visit by Trump this week, NPR reported on Tuesday.

Trump on Monday participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery honoring the 13 servicemembers killed during the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

Later in Detroit, Trump blamed Vice Preisdent Kamala Harris, his Democratic rival for the White House, and President Joe Biden for what he termed a “catastrophic” withdrawal.

Citing an unnamed source, NPR reported that when a cemetery official tried to prevent Trump campaign staffers from filming and photographing in an area where servicemembers are buried, the Trump staff “verbally abused and pushed the official aside.”

Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung disputed the report. “There was no physical altercation as described and we are prepared to release footage if such defamatory claims are made,” Cheung said.

“The fact is that a private photographer was permitted on the premises and for whatever reason an unnamed individual, clearly suffering from a mental health episode, decided to physically block members of President Trump’s team during a very solemn ceremony.”

Arlington National Cemetery confirmed in a statement that an incident had occurred and that a report was filed.

“Federal law prohibits political campaign or election-related activities within Army National Military Cemeteries, to include photographers, content creators or any other persons attending for purposes, or in direct support of a partisan political candidate’s campaign,” the cemetery said.

It did not respond to requests for a copy of the report or an explanation of why the Trump campaign was allowed to visit the cemetery as part of his campaign.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)