On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order aiming to bar transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports, marking his latest policy move affecting transgender individuals since his return to office.
“From now on, women’s sports will be for women only,” Trump declared before signing the order at the White House, where he was joined by female athletes and children. He framed the order as a victory, stating, “The war on women’s sports is over.”
Prominent Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, attended the ceremony. Trump asserted that his administration would protect female athletes from what he described as unfair competition, saying, “We will not allow men to dominate, injure, and cheat women and girls in sports.” His remarks were met with applause and cheers.
The executive order grants federal agencies the authority to withhold funding from schools that permit transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports. “If you allow men to join women’s teams or enter their locker rooms, you will be investigated and could lose federal funding,” Trump warned.
Additionally, he announced plans to pressure the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to revise its policies on transgender athletes ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. He instructed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to communicate to the IOC that the U.S. demands changes regarding this issue. Trump also directed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to reject visa applications from individuals he claimed were “men fraudulently identifying as women” to compete in the Olympics.
Since the start of his second term, Trump has issued a series of executive actions targeting transgender rights. During his inauguration speech, he declared that federal policy would recognize only two genders—male and female—eliminating the option of a third gender in official records. Shortly after, he signed orders banning what he called “transgender ideology” in the military, effectively prohibiting transgender individuals from serving, and restricting gender transition procedures for minors under 19.
Despite transgender people making up a small portion of the U.S. population, Trump has prioritized this issue, leveraging it during his 2024 campaign. He frequently criticized Democrats over transgender rights, portraying the debate as part of a larger cultural conflict.
One of his most effective attack lines against his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris, was: “Kamala Harris is for they/them. President Trump is for you.” He also condemned her previous support for gender reassignment procedures for incarcerated individuals.
Wednesday’s executive order follows a Republican-led bill passed by the House of Representatives in January that severely limits transgender athletes’ participation in women’s sports. As transgender visibility has increased, sparking debates about gender norms and fairness in competition, many conservatives have rallied behind efforts to “protect” women’s sports.
