Donald Trump Jr. criticized Teen Vogue on Tuesday for an op-ed written by a doctor advocating for the global decriminalization of sex work.
“This is how deranged the left is. Imagine trying to normalize this to a teen and even preteen audience!?!” the president’s eldest son tweeted.
Trump Jr. suggested the magazine focus on the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields “before jumping to prostitution as a career choice for our young women.”
“Nothing is sacred to these sickos and they’re influencing our youth,” he said.
Trump Jr.’s tweet was in response to an op-ed Teen Vogue published in April and promoted on its Twitter page Monday.{mosads}
In the article, Tlaleng Mofokeng, a South African-based doctor and founder of the organization Nalane for Reproductive Justice, lays out her reasoning for decriminalizing sex work, including relating it to her job.
“I am a doctor, an expert in sexual health, but when you think about it, aren’t I a sex worker? And in some ways, aren’t we all?” Mofokeng said.
“I find it interesting that as a medical doctor, I exchange payment in the form of money with people to provide them with advice and treatment for sex-related problems; therapy for sexual performance, counseling and therapy for relationship problems, and treatment of sexually transmitted infection. Isn’t this basically sex work?” she wrote.
Mofokeng argued that having a medical degree is not the right measure for saying “who is deserving of dignity, autonomy, safety in the work place, fair trade and freedom of employment.”
She wrote that “sex work” can include “services between consenting adults” such as “companionship, intimacy, nonsexual role playing, dancing, escorting, and stripping.” She argued that decriminalization would protect sex workers and keep them out of more dangerous situations.
The Hill has reached out to Teen Vogue’s parent company, Condé Nast, and Mofokeng for comment on Trump Jr.’s remarks.
Sex work is still criminalized across much of the United States, and much of the rest of the world, other than Amsterdam.
The push for decriminalization seems to be gaining some traction among activists and progressive lawmakers.
Democratic New York state representatives recently introduced a bill that would decriminalize sex work across the state. With the end of session in Albany approaching, it is unlikely the bill will head to the floor for a vote this year.
Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), a presidential candidate, has also come out in support of decriminalizing sex work between consenting adults.
Trump Jr. weighed in on the topic Tuesday as he separately wrote his own op-ed published by Fox News endorsing his father on the morning of President Trump’s reelection campaign launch.
Trump Jr. and his brother Eric Trump are said to be in control of their father’s businesses while he’s in office to avoid conflicts of interest.