On Wednesday, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order called the “No Men in Women’s Sports Executive Order.” This order bans transgender women and girls from competing in female sports. It is Trump’s fourth action targeting transgender individuals since taking office.
Trump made a statement at the White House, criticizing what he called the “radical left” for trying to erase distinctions between biological sexes. He claimed the left was replacing these distinctions with “militant transgender ideology.” Trump declared that with this executive order, “the war on women’s sports is over.”
He also pointed to cases where “men claiming to be girls” defeated female athletes. He used this to support his position. Trump made false claims about Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, saying she was assigned male at birth, which was not true. White House officials explained before the signing that while the media might focus on the term “transgender,” the order’s main goal was to protect fair and safe opportunities for women in sports.
Critics argue that the order harms transgender rights and could hinder inclusivity and equality in sports. This decision will likely fuel ongoing debates about the participation of transgender athletes, especially in women’s competitions.
