It doesn’t have to be a good look, but it seemed more like cowardice and being manipulatable than it did actively hating trans people.
That’s the case for a lot of Americans. They’re opposed to the idea of their tax dollars being used for gender surgery; when it’s pointed out people pay for them themselves, they’re like “…Well, then I don’t care, do what you want.”
And yes, I’m aware that kind of cowardice is sometimes just as bad as hatefulness. I’d certainly rather a leader with a stronger spine than him.