Trump enforces ban on transgender athletes in women's sports

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order barring transgender athletes from competing in women's sports, marking his latest move targeting transgender rights since his return to office.

"This executive order ends the war on women's sports," Trump declared at the White House on Wednesday, signing the order in front of an audience that included children and female athletes. Top Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, were also present.

"We will defend the proud tradition of female athletes and will not allow men to beat up, injure, and cheat our women and girls. From now on, women's sports will be only for women," Trump added, drawing applause.

The order empowers government agencies to withhold federal funding from schools that permit transgender athletes to compete in women's sports.

"It is the policy of the United States to rescind all funds from educational programmes that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities, which results in endangerment, humiliation, and the deprivation of privacy," the executive order states.

Trump also announced plans to pressure the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to amend its regulations on transgender athletes ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. He instructed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to "make it clear" to the IOC that the US expects changes to its policies.

Additionally, Trump said he had directed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to deny visa applications from "men attempting to fraudulently enter the United States while identifying themselves as women athletes to compete in the Games."

Since his second inauguration on 20 January, Trump has issued a series of executive orders pushing a hard-right agenda, with transgender rights among his key targets.

He has already signed orders banning transgender people from serving in the military and restricting gender transition procedures for individuals under 19.

Despite transgender people making up only a small fraction of the US population, the issue has become central to a broader cultural and political divide. During the 2024 election campaign, Trump repeatedly attacked Democrats over their support for transgender rights, using the issue as a key talking point against his opponent, Kamala Harris.

One of his most repeated slogans—"Kamala Harris is for they/them. President Trump is for you"—highlighted his opposition to gender-neutral pronouns and trans rights. He also criticised Harris for previously supporting gender reassignment surgery for prisoners.

His latest order follows a bill passed by the Republican-led House of Representatives in January, which placed severe restrictions on transgender athletes competing in girls' and women's sports.