U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday aimed at banning transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports, marking the latest move in a series of actions targeting transgender individuals since his return to office.
“From now on, women’s sports will be only for women,” Trump declared during the signing ceremony at the White House, where he was joined by female athletes and children. “With this executive order, the war on women’s sports is over.”
The order empowers federal agencies to withdraw funding from schools that allow transgender athletes to compete on women’s teams. Trump warned that schools violating the directive would face investigation and risk losing federal funding.
“If you let men take over women’s sports teams or invade your locker rooms, you will be investigated,” Trump said to a cheering crowd, which included top Republican figures such as House Speaker Mike Johnson and Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Trump also revealed plans to pressure the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to change its policies on transgender athletes before the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. He instructed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to engage with the IOC to push for rule changes, calling the current policies “absolutely ridiculous.”
Additionally, Trump announced that Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem would begin denying U.S. visa applications from individuals attempting to “fraudulently enter the country as female athletes.”
This executive order is part of a broader effort by Trump to roll back policies related to transgender rights. His administration has implemented several controversial measures, including banning transgender individuals from the military and restricting gender transition procedures for minors under 19.
Since taking office, Trump has made transgender issues a focal point of his agenda. In his inauguration speech, he declared that U.S. government policy would only recognize two genders, male and female, eliminating the option for non-binary identification in official settings.
Political Divide
The move has drawn sharp criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates, who argue that it promotes discrimination and erases hard-won rights for transgender individuals. However, many conservatives view it as a necessary step to protect fairness in women’s sports.
During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump frequently attacked his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris, on transgender rights. His campaign slogan, “Kamala Harris is for they/them. President Trump is for you,” resonated with conservative voters and fueled his broader culture war strategy.
Trump’s latest executive order follows a Republican-led bill passed in January by the House of Representatives that similarly restricts transgender athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s sports.
As debates over gender norms and fairness continue to grow, Trump’s policies are certain to remain a flashpoint in America’s cultural and political landscape.
