Former U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order barring transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. The order, signed at the White House, was issued in the presence of female athletes and young children, reinforcing Trump’s stance on protecting women’s sports.
“From now on, women’s sports will be only for women. With this executive order, the war on women’s sports is over,” Trump declared.
Trump argued that allowing transgender women to compete in female categories undermines fairness in sports.
“We will defend the proud tradition of female athletes, and we will not allow men to beat up, injure, and cheat our women and girls,” he stated.
Under the new directive:
- Educational institutions and sports organizations that allow transgender women to compete in female categories will face federal investigations and risk losing funding.
- Locker room policies must align with an individual’s biological sex at birth.
Beyond domestic policy, Trump also announced plans to pressure the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to revise its transgender athlete policies before the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
“I have ordered Secretary of State Marco Rubio to make it clear to the IOC that we want them to change everything related to this ridiculous subject,” he said.
Additionally, Homeland Security Chief Kristi Noem has been directed to deny visa applications from transgender women seeking to compete in the U.S.
This move aligns with Trump’s earlier policies, as he had previously eliminated non-binary gender recognition in federal documentation, limiting U.S. government policy to only recognize male and female genders.
The executive order has sparked strong reactions, with supporters praising it as a victory for women’s sports, while critics argue it discriminates against transgender individuals and violates human rights protections.
