‘Had a Very Hard Week’ with Trump’s ‘Public Terrorism Campaign’ Says Trans Politician [WATCH]

Democratic State Rep. Leigh Finke of Minnesota, who identifies as transgender, spoke out Monday against an executive order signed by President Donald Trump, claiming it amounts to a “public terrorism campaign” targeting transgender individuals.

The executive order, signed hours after Trump’s inauguration on January 20, directs federal agencies to recognize and enforce the “biological reality of sex.”

The order defines male, female, man, woman, boy, and girl based on biological sex at birth, and it includes measures such as segregating federal prisons by sex assigned at birth and restricting the recognition of gender identity.

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Finke, a first-term legislator and advocate for transgender rights, appeared on CNN’s Newsroom with Pamela Brown to discuss the implications of the order.

“So since Donald Trump re-entered office, has your experience changed, especially in the wake of some of these executive orders you alluded to last week?” Brown asked Finke during the segment.

“He rolled back protections for transgender people, such as segregating federal prisons by sex assigned at birth and only recognizing two sexes saying that they’re not changeable. How has that impacted you?”

“It has impacted me personally, as I think it has all trans people in this country, because these are not executive orders that change the laws of the United States,” Finke said.

“They are intended to create a public terrorism campaign against our community and of course, I have felt that as a public-facing advocate for trans rights in Minnesota and across the country.”

Finke has been a prominent voice for transgender rights, authoring Minnesota’s HF146, also known as the “trans refuge” bill, which permits child sex change procedures in the state.

The legislation was signed into law by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on April 27, 2023.

Finke was later recognized with the “Children’s Health Hero” award from Minnesota Children’s Hospital for the work on the bill.

Finke expressed that Trump’s executive order is intended to create fear and suppress participation in public spaces.

“The intention of this is not to change the law immediately, because he simply cannot do that,” Finke explained.

“The intention of this is to create panic, to get media to repeat all of the dangers that we face over and over to make sure that people think twice about participating in the public space.”

Finke added, “And — and as a leader in the trans community, I will not be pushed out and I will continue to advocate. And — and as a result of that, I would say that I have had a very hard week.”

Minnesota Democrat Leigh Finke says Trump’s executive orders are “intended to create a public terrorism campaign against our community.” pic.twitter.com/jTA2jPLoKR

— Alpha News (@AlphaNewsMN) January 27, 2025

The controversy surrounding Trump’s executive order comes amid broader national debates on gender identity and the treatment of transgender individuals under the law.

The Supreme Court recently heard arguments in United States v. Skrmetti, a case concerning Tennessee’s law banning child sex change procedures.

The outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for similar laws across the country.

Additionally, concerns over transgender healthcare have prompted internal debates within advocacy organizations.

The Daily Caller News Foundation previously obtained footage and over 100 pages of documents from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, revealing disagreements among members about the group’s “Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People, Version 8.”

As the political and legal landscape surrounding transgender issues continues to evolve, the clash between federal directives and state-level actions highlights the deep divisions in the national conversation.

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