'Bye-bye Asa': Trump lashes out at Arkansas's GOP gov for supporting 'chemical castration of children' by vetoing bill banning hormones for transgender kids
Donald Trump tore into Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Thursday for allegedly supporting 'chemical castration of children' in vetoing a bill banning hormone treatment for transgender children.
'Asa Hutchinson, the lightweight RINO Governor of Arkansas, just vetoed a Bill that banned the CHEMICAL CASTRATION OF CHILDREN,' Trump released in a statement under the letterhead from his Save America political action committee.
''Bye-bye Asa,' that's the end of him!' he added.
Trump has used emails through his PAC and 'Office of the 45th President' to send out statements issuing endorsements and attacking defectors.
'RINO', which means 'Republican in Name Only', and has become known as a popular insult to wield against GOP lawmakers and politicians, is a term Trump often uses against his critics and defectors.
The former president deemed Hutchinson's career over and slipped in an endorsement of his former press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, in the statement.
Donald Trump issued a statement Thursday claiming Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson supports 'chemical castration of children' and insisted his career is over, saying: 'Bye-bye Asa, that's the end of him!'
Hutchinson vetoed a bill Monday that would ban doctors from giving transgender children certain treatments like hormone therapy. His veto was overwhelmingly overturned on Tuesday by the Arkansas House and Senate
'Fortunately for the Great State of Arkansas, Sarah Huckabee Sanders will do a fantastic job as your next Governor!' Trump wrote.
It's never been a question whether Trump would publicly back his former spokesperson, who left in July 2019 and was succeeded by Kayleigh McEnany. It was clear she was leaving the administration to spend more time with her family and think about her career post-White House.
Sanders officially announced on January 25, 2021 that she would run to become Arkansas' next governor in the November 2022 election.
Hutchinson is in his second term, and the state of Arkansas has a two-term limit on governors.
Trump also sent another statement from his Save America PAC on Thursday endorsing Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul in his reelection.
'He fights against the Swamp in Washington, the Radical Left Liberals, and especially the destructive RINOS, of which there are far too many, in Congress,' Trump said of Paul in his statement.
'Rand will continue to stand up for our great AMERICA FIRST policies because he believes in stopping wasteful spending, defending our Second Amendment rights, and taking care of our Military and our Vets,' Trump continued. 'He has my Complete and Total Endorsement for another term in the U.S. Senate.'
In Trump's statement, he also again backed his former press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, in her bid to become Arkansas' next governor when Hutchinson finishes his second term in 2022
Trump also sent a message through his PAC Thursday endorsing Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul in his reelection
Trump is using his statements through his PAC and former president's office as a means to get his messages out after he was booted from Twitter following the January 6 Capitol attack.
These messages include endorsements and attacks – like on Hutchinson.
While a staunch Republican, Hutchinson has shared some views and made some decisions that go against establishment GOP perspectives – including his decision this week to go against his own state legislature.
On Tuesday, the Arkansas House and Senate, which are overwhelmingly Republican, voted to override Hutchinson's veto.
This means Arkansas is now the first state that will bar doctors from providing certain treatment to transgender minors – like irreversible hormone treatment that could delay, stunt or, in some cases, stop puberty.
Hutchinson vetoed the legislation on Monday, calling it 'a vast government overreach.' He also claimed the bill was well intentioned and predicted there would be a successful override vote.
The House voted 71 to 24 on Tuesday to override the veto, followed shortly thereafter by the Senate, 25 to eight – even though only a simple majority was needed in each chamber.
The bill will become law 90 days after the end of the legislative session, which is currently scheduled to end on April 30.
Currently, at least 16 states other than Arkansas are considering similar legislation taking aim at treatment for children who identify as transgender.
Critics claim these laws will lead to more suicides, while supporters feel it will protect underage individuals from taking medical measures – most times permanent – that they will later regret as an adult or teen.
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