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White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders staunchly defended President Trumps decision Wednesday to ban transgender people from serving in the military in "any capacity," a move that touched off a firestorm in Washington and beyond.

In her first, solo on-camera press briefing since she replaced Sean Spicer, Sanders faced a battery of questions on the presidents abrupt Twitter announcement earlier Wednesday morning. She said the decision was based on consultation with the presidents national security team and the Pentagon.

This decision was made after extensive discussions with the national security team and it was in the militarys best interest to end this Obama policy, Sanders said. ... This is a very expensive and disruptive policy and based on consultation with his national security team, it erodes military readiness and unit cohesion, and he made the decision based on that.

TRUMP ANNOUNCES BAN ON TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS SERVING IN MILITARY

The decision effectively reversed one made at the end of the Obama administration. Transgender service members had been able to serve openly in the military since last year, when former Defense Secretary Ash Carter ended the prior ban. But Carter also gave the services until July 1 to develop policies to allow people already identifying as transgender to newly join the military, if they meet physical, medical and other standards.

When pressed repeatedly Wednesday on what would happen to transgender service members currently serving in the military, Sanders could not say. She said implementation of the policy would be something the White House and Department of Defense would work together to lawfully determine.

The decision is based on a military decisionnot meant to be anything more than thatobviously this is a very difficult decision. Its not a simple one, but the president feels its the best one for the military, Sanders said.

Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said he would give military chiefs another six months to conduct a review to determine if allowing transgender individuals to enlist would affect the readiness or lethality of the force. The deadline for that review was Dec. 1, 2017.

Sometimes you have to make decisions, and once [Trump] made a decision, he didnt feel it was necessary to hold that decision, Sanders explained, adding that Mattis was immediately informed of Trump's choice.

Some lawmakers including Reps. Steve King, R-Iowa, and Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., backed the president's decision, as did groups like the Family Research Council. But the move drew criticism from past secretaries of defense and lawmakers from both parties.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., slammed the announcement and said anyone fit to serve in the military should be allowed to do so.

The presidents tweet this morning regarding transgender Americans in the military is yet another example of why major policy announcements should not be made via Twitter, McCain, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said.

Trump made his announcement in a series of tweets on Wednesday morning:

After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allowTransgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelmingvictory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you.

At Wednesday's briefing, reporters questioned Sanders over a tweet then-candidate Trump posted in June 2016, when he said: Thank you to the LGBT community! I will fight for you while Hillary brings in more people that will threaten your freedoms and beliefs.

Sanders responded that the president has made very clear that he is committed to fighting for all Americans.

The on-camera briefing was arranged on the heels of Anthony Scaramucci being named White House communications director.

At the beginning of the briefing, Sanders told reporters that from time to time she would like to give a reminder of why we are here every day.

She started by reading a letter to the president from a 9-year-old boy nicknamed "Pickle" and added some personal reflections about her own family.

I have three children, and the oldest, Scarlett, starts kindergarten in a few weeks, Sanders said, noting she is the first mom to be White House press secretary. As a working mom, its not lost on me what a great honor, and privilege it is to stand here at the podiumI hope to send my daughter a message, and every other kid in America, dont listen to the critics, dream big and fulfill your potential.

Fox News' Barnini Chakraborty contributed to this report.

Brooke Singman is a Reporter for Fox News. Follow her on Twitter at @brookefoxnews.

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White House defends reversal of 'Obama policy' on transgender military service - Fox News

Michelle Obama opened up about the racism she faced as the first black first lady during an appearance at the Women's Foundation of Colorado's 30th anniversary celebration in Denver, Colorado, on Tuesday, July 25.

WFCO president and CEO Lauren Casteel asked the former first lady, 53, which pieces of "falling glass" hurt the most after breaking the glass ceiling of race during her eight years in the White House.

"The shards that cut me the deepest were the ones that intended to cut," Obama responded, via the Denver Post. "Knowing that after eight years of working really hard for this country, there are still people who won't see me for what I am because of my skin color."

During the conversation, the Chicago native spoke about resilience while reflecting on being called an ape. "Women, we endure those cuts in so many ways that we don't even notice we're cut," she said. "We are living with small tiny cuts, and we are bleeding every single day. And we're still getting up."

Obama also reiterated her previous statements that she does not plan to seek public office, though she and former President Barack Obama intend to stay involved in public service. "The people in this country are universally good and kind and honest and decent," she told the audience. "Don't be afraid of the country you live in. The folks here are good."

The activist stayed away from discussing the current political climate under President Donald Trump during Tuesday's appearance, though she did take a few subtle shots at him, according to the Denver Post.

The Obamas have been enjoying life out of the spotlight as of late. Since leaving 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in January, the couple have vacationed in California, the British Virgin Islands, Hawaii, Italy and Indonesia.

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New White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci on Wednesday blamed holdovers from the Obama administration for a series of damaging leaks that have rocked the White House in recent months.

Speaking on Fox News, Scaramucci said that "political holdovers" from the Obama White House "aren't helping," and hinted that more staff changes could be on the way.

"Listen, we have to crack down on leaks on a number of different fronts," Scaramucci told "Fox and Friends."

"I certainly have the full responsibility in the comms shop, which I do believe will be corrected shortly."

Scaramucci cautioned viewers to remember that it's impossible for him to reach a point of absolutely no leaks,but pledged to clean up the White House press office.

"People are suggesting I'm going to try to get the leaks down to zero, that is absolutely impossible in Washington, I'm learning a little about this town, but what I do want to have happen is people who report to me, if there are senior people in the administration trying to get them to leak information on each other, we're getting that to stop right now."

D.C. is the kind of town, the Wall Street financier said, where people are "very nice to your face" but then stab you in the back.

"I'm more of a front-stabbing person," he said.

On Tuesday, Scaramucci blasted "leaks" of his planned firing of White House press aide Michael Short, despite himself personally telling a news outlet of his plans. Scaramucci added that he would "fire everybody" in the White House press office to stop the damaging leaks.

Im going to fire everybody, thats how Im going to do it, Scaramucci said on Tuesday, adding that he a thousand percent" has the authority from President Trump to do so.

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Scaramucci: Obama holdovers are responsible for leaks - The Hill

President Donald Trump addressed a massive gathering of Boy Scouts Monday and made it all about himselfa massive breach of customwhile pushing for his political agenda. Republicans were mostly silent on the issue, a curious development considering the GOP slammed former President Barack Obama for telling kids to work hard and persevere in a 2009 back-to-school speech.

Trumps speech at the National Scout Jamboree was widely considered to bewholly inappropriate, breaking from a long tradition of presidents addressing the youngsters and promoting ideals such as serving other people. Trump started his speech by saying, Who the hell wants to speak about politics when Im in front of the Boy Scouts?then proceeded to rant about politics in front of 40,000 Boy Scouts.

He toldHealth and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, standing near him, that he better get votes for a health care bill, otherwise, I'll say, Tom, youre fired.Ill get somebody. Among many, many other comments abouthis win on Election Day, Trumpsaid, But do you remember that incredible night with the maps and the Republicans are red and the Democrats are blue, and that map was so red, it was unbelievable, and they didnt know what to say?He told the scouts, Youre going to be saying Merry Christmasagain, folks.He of course attacked the fake news mediaand Obama.

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Trumpeven claimed the many people in the crowd agreed with one of hisslogans, saying the Boy Scouts believe in putting America First.(He also told the gathering of teens a rambling storyabout a cocktail party in New York that was about momentummaybe?) The left was quick to criticize the president for using the Boy Scouts as a political toolfor their part the group stressed after the speech that they do not endorse any position, product, service, political candidate or philosophywithsome liberalseven saying Trump made the event look like a Hitler Youth rally.But the right was relatively silent.

But as Matt Gertz of the left-wing group Media Matters for America pointed out on Twitter, the right-wing media and conservative figures were happy to jump all over Obama for his 2009 back-to-school speech that was optional for students and promoted ideas such as the importance of staying in school and listening to teachers.

I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself,Obama told students. Every single one of you has something that youre good at. Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. Thats the opportunity an education can provide. Republicans were not happy with that message.

As the father of four children, I am absolutely appalled that taxpayer dollars are being used to spread President Obamas socialist ideology,said Jim Greer, chairman of the Republican Party of Florida. It seems very close to indoctrination, said Fox News Sean Hannity, who is now Trumps No. 1 fan on television. Fox Nation suggested keeping kids home from school. Then-Oklahoma SenatorSteve Russell, aRepublicanwho now serves in the House of Representatives, said Obama was seemingly promoting himself by telling kids to work hard in school. As far as I'm concerned this is not civics educationit gives the appearance of creating a cult of personality,Russell saidat the time.

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Republicans Silent on Trump's Boy Scout Speech, but Slammed Obama for a Back-to-School Address - Newsweek

Democratic National Convention, August 2008

With the world's eyes on her, Michelle Obama chose a simply beautiful turquoise dress by Chicago-based designer Maria Pinto for the Democratic convention in 2008.

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Her red-and-black dress with a crisscross corset by Narciso Rodriguez attracted nearly as much attention online as Barack Obama's victory speech.

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The First Lady dazzled in a one-shouldered white silk chiffon gown embellished with organza flowers and Swarovski crystals at the 2009 inaugural balls in Washington, D.C., and made designer Jason Wu an overnight sensation.

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At a dinner for governorsthe couple's first White House black-tie eventMrs. Obama looked sparkly-chic in a strapless gown by Peter Soronen and a crystal-and-pearl necklace by Tom Binns.

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At an evening celebrating Stevie Wonder, who won the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, FLOTUS wore an emerald-green silk chiffon dress by Kai Millathe musician's wife.

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A new kind of statement piece: Mrs. Obama looked chic in a marigold J.Crew cardigan and pencil skirt for a women's event. In the ensuing years, she'd also proudly wear pieces from Gap, H&M, and Target.

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She arrived in a pretty Tracy Reese floral for the President's three-day official visit to Mexico.

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The First Lady was the picture of polished-cool in a bronze polka-dot Kevan Hall shirtdress.

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When one wants to appear regal for a state dinner with Queen Elizabeth but still flash some shoulder, one wears an ivory Tom Ford dress with a crossover bodice, waistline ribbon detail, and a flowing chiffon skirt.

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The First Lady capped off the couple's visit to London with a fitted black, off-the-shoulder evening gown by Ralph Lauren.

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Few things are more stylish than encouraging youth to kick childhood obesity, as Mrs. Obama did when she started the Let's Move! initiative. Here she is, as David Beckham himself looks on, being a role model in a sporty outfit hours before the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

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She wowed in a fitted Tracy Reese pink toile dress with gold brocadeand blue trim, of course.

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Once again, Michelle Obama chose a Jason Wu gown for inaugural festivities, this one a stunning ruby chiffon and velvet number with cross-halter straps.

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A sunny $169 dress from Talbots kicked off a vacation in Martha's Vineyard, one of several Talbots pieces she was spotted in during her eight years in the White House.

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Her FLOTUS-ness rocked a teal chiffon Marchesa gown with off-the-shoulder allure at a gala for Kennedy Center honorees.

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The First Lady spoke at a luncheon at the L.A. museum in a Phillip Lim midi with a window-pane design.

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At the Phoenix Awards dinner, taking center stage in a graphic white gown with a pleated skirt by Bibhu Mohapatra.

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The First Lady made a lasting impression during her first visit to Japan in a vibrant flared Kenzo dress with a mirrored belt.

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Michelle Obama wore a marigold Narciso Rodriguez dress for the President's last State of the Union address; it sold out online before his speech was done.

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She addressed the crowd at the Phoenix Awards dinner in a strapless gold Naeem Khan gown with hand-painted gold leaf over black tulle.

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Remember When Michelle Obama's Sneakers Counted as a Political Controversy? - Vanity Fair