Trump suggests he will ban transgender athletes through executive action
Former President Trump on Tuesday signaled he would ban transgender athletes from competing on sports teams that match their gender identity though an executive order if he wins reelection next month.
During a taped town hall of only female voters in Cumming, Ga., with Fox News’s Harris Faulkner, Trump was asked by an audience member how he would handle “the transgender issue” in women’s sports as president.
"It’s such an easy question, and everybody in the room, and you know that answer,” Trump said during Tuesday’s town hall on The Faulkner Focus. “We're not going to let it happen.”
Trump in his response referenced a viral video of a transgender college volleyball player in California spiking a ball in her opponent’s face. The player hit with the ball was unharmed, and the transgender athlete’s team ultimately lost the match in straight sets.
“I never saw a ball hit so hard,” Trump said, referring to the video. His administration, he said, will “absolutely stop” schools from allowing transgender athletes to play on sports teams that match their gender identity.
“You can’t have it,” he said.
When pressed by Faulkner on how he would prevent trans athletes from competing, Trump said he would “just ban it.”
“The president bans it,” Trump said to cheers and applause from the audience. “You just don’t let it happen. Not a big deal."
Trump has pledged on multiple occasions to bar transgender women and girls, whom he calls “men,” from female sports if he returns to the White House next year but has not outlined how his administration would do so.
The former president in 2022 promised to sign several executive orders intended to combat “left-wing gender insanity” in the U.S. if he is reelected, including an order instructing federal agencies to cease programs that “promote” the concept that a person can transition to a different gender. In May, Trump said he would similarly reverse new transgender student protections that were instituted this year by the Biden administration “on day one” of his presidency.
The Education Department’s new Title IX regulations, to which Trump was referring, cover discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in schools and education programs but do not apply to athletics.
A spokesperson for Trump’s campaign did not immediately return a request for comment.
Trump and Republicans have seized on transgender issues ahead of November’s election, blanketing the nation in campaign ads that paint Democrats who support transgender athletes and gender-affirming health care as extremists who will harm children if they are elected.
There is no broad consensus on policies impacting transgender individuals, though most Americans oppose laws that limit or ban access to gender-affirming care for minors, a June Gallup poll found. Sixty-nine percent of adults in the same survey said they believe transgender athletes should only be allowed to compete on sports teams that match their sex assigned at birth, up from 62 percent in 2021.
The Wall Street Journal editorial board on Sunday called transgender athletes “a 2024 sleeper issue.”
Half of the nation has enacted laws prohibiting transgender student-athletes from competing in accordance with their gender identity, according to the Movement Advancement Project, an LGBTQ policy think tank, though Republican lawmakers backing the policies have struggled to cite examples of transgender girls competing in their states.
At least three separate bills to ban transgender athletes from sports nationwide were introduced this Congress by House Republicans. One of them, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, passed the House but failed to advance in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
Date: | |
Tag: | Donald Trump |
Topics
-
Top stories - The New York Times
Harris Suggests Trump Is ‘Weak and Unstable’ in Pointed Challenge
Kamala Harris asked why Donald J. Trump had not released his medical records, appeared on “60 Minutes” or agreed to a second debate.2 days ago - Donald Trump -
World - The Guardian
Want to understand Donald Trump? Then watch macho 80s action movies
From Sly Stallone at the White House to Hulk Hogan at the RNC, Donald Trump has made no secret of his affinity for hyper-masculine men. But will the US fall for his action movie-inspired strongman ...Yesterday - Donald Trump -
Politics - The Hill
Trump suggests using National Guard, military against 'enemy from within'
Former President Trump in a Sunday interview suggested using the National Guard or the military on Election Day to combat what he described as potential chaos from “the enemy from within” – a group ...2 days ago - Donald Trump -
Top stories - BBC News
Harris courts black and Latino votes as polls suggest Trump gains
Recent polling indicates Trump is having success with both groups, in part due to his message on the economy.Yesterday - Donald Trump -
Business - MarketWatch
LVMH executive says it would be a mistake to offer more affordable products. Here’s why he’s right.
The comments come as the French luxury brand saw a 3% sales decline this quarter.1 hour ago -
Politics - The Hill
Trump says national abortion ban 'off the table'
Click in for more news from The Hill {beacon} Health Care Health Care The Big Story Trump hedges on abortion ban Former President Trump said a national abortion ban is “off the table” but left ...Yesterday - Donald Trump -
Health - ABC News
RFK Jr. suggests he'll have a significant role on agriculture and health policy if Trump is elected
Robert F23 hours ago - Donald Trump -
Politics - The Hill
Trump claims he is 'far healthier' than Harris
Former President Trump in a series of social media posts early Tuesday morning claimed Vice President Harris’s seasonal allergies were “deeply serious” and asserted he was “far healthier” than she ...Yesterday - Donald Trump -
World - The Guardian
Trump bizarrely claims Democrats want to ban cows and windows in buildings
Former president makes remark during Las Vegas campaign event and says: ‘Honestly, they’re crazy’. US politics – live updates Donald Trump over the weekend told supporters of his campaign ...Yesterday - Donald Trump
More from The Hill
-
Politics - The Hill
Harris enters unfriendly territory
Welcome to The Hill's Campaign newsletter {beacon} Campaign Report Campaign Report The Big Story Harris enters unfriendly territory Vice President Harris is entering unfriendly territory with a ...17 minutes ago - Kamala Harris -
Politics - The Hill
Washington lawmakers press Boeing, union to resolve monthlong strike
Four Democratic lawmakers from the state of Washington this week urged Boeing and the union representing striking machinists around Seattle and Portland, Ore., to resolve the labor dispute. Around ...45 minutes ago -
Politics - The Hill
Supreme Court declines to block Biden's climate rule for power plants — for now
The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to block a Biden administration rule setting climate standards for power plants — but hinted it could take up the case at a later time. The high court ...1 hour ago - Climate -
Politics - The Hill
Allred backs oil in bid to take down Cruz
Welcome to The Hill's Sustainability newsletter {beacon} Sustainability Sustainability The Big Story Allred backs oil in bid to take down Cruz In Texas’ tight and acrimonious Senate race, there ...1 hour ago -
Politics - The Hill
Pentagon confirms 'incursions' of unauthorized drones over Air Force base
The Pentagon has confirmed a number of “unauthorized” drone flights last year in restricted airspace over a Virginia base that houses the nation’s most advanced fighter jets. The Wall Street ...1 hour ago