The Wrong Kind of American
A former intelligence official recounts their experience working in the Trump White House while being transgender. The narrative explores the personal and professional challenges faced under an administration with explicitly anti-transgender policies.
Why it matters
It provides a personal perspective on the intersection of national security employment and identity politics during a period of significant political polarization.
The author on Air Force One with the President’s Daily Brief in 2018 ( Courtesy of Julia Curlee ) National Security The Wrong Kind of American The Trump White House needed me—until the fact that I am trans became public.
Save A t the CIA , they’d started an office pool on when I’d be fired.
President Trump would be sworn in for his second term at noon; the smart money had me gone by 12:15. But the smart money hadn’t counted on Trump’s first pick to run intelligence for the National Security Council being shredded by an online mob on suspicion of disloyalty. There wasn’t yet anyone in place to fire me.
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