Former U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday banning transgender women from competing in female sports, aiming for the measure to take effect before the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

“We will proudly defend the tradition of female athletes and will not allow men to hit, injure, and cheat against our women and girls,” Trump declared.

The order directs the Department of Justice to interpret Title IX, the law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in education, in a way that excludes transgender girls and women from female sports.

A revived debate for transgender women

During his first term (2017-2021), Trump implemented Title IX policies that narrowed the definition of sexual harassment and limited investigations in universities. The Biden administration reversed these measures and expanded protections for LGBTQ+ students.

While Biden’s policy did not explicitly address transgender athletes, Republican-led states challenged the issue in court, fueling controversy that Trump has leveraged in his campaign.

Trump announced that the U.S. would deny visas to transgender women athletes, potentially affecting international team participation. He also urged the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to revise its policies regarding trans athletes.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio was tasked with delivering the official U.S. stance to the IOC. “We want them to change everything related to this absolutely ridiculous issue,” Trump stated.

So far, the IOC has left these decisions to individual sports federations. However, leadership changes are imminent, as Thomas Bach will step down as IOC president in March. His likely successor, Sebastian Coe, has already indicated he will consider banning transgender women athletes from female competitions.

Reactions and Protests

Trump’s executive order sparked immediate backlash. Human rights organizations and the trans community voiced strong opposition, staging protests outside the Capitol on Wednesday.

With the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics approaching, this decision could set a precedent for international sports regulations. Additionally, the U.S. will host the FIFA Club World Cup this year and the 2026 World Cup, making this a focal point in the global sports agenda.