DONALD Trump has signed an executive order banning transgender women from female events and declared the “war is over”.
Trump’s order allows US government agencies to deny money to schools that allow transgender athletes to compete on women’s teams.
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The president signed the order, for the Department of Education, in a White House ceremony surrounded by young girls.
The order largely covers high school, university, and grassroot sports.
Trump said: “From now on women’s sports will be only for women.
“With this executive order the war on women’s sports is over.
“If you let men take over women’s sports teams or invade your locker rooms, you will be investigated… and risk your federal funding.”
Trump’s directive provides guidance, regulations, and legal interpretations to high schools and it orders the Education Department to investigate those that don’t comply.
In a post on X, Trump said schools would be investigated for violations of Title IX be at risk of losing federal funding.
Trump is now set to push the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to change its rules on transgender athletes before the 2028 Los Angeles games.
He said he had ordered Secretary of State Marco Rubio to “make it clear” to the IOC that “we want them to change everything having to do with the Olympics and having to do with this absolutely ridiculous subject.”
Trump’s Olympics demand comes after the Paris games saw a row erupt over Alergerian boxer Imane Khelif.
At his inauguration speech Trump announced that US government policy would only recognize two genders, male and female – ending the practice of providing a third gender option in some settings.
Trump described “a society that is colour-blind and merit based” as he set out his vision of a United States “respected again and admired again”.
Days later he signed an order to rid the military of what he called “transgender ideology” and effectively ban transgender troops.
He also issued an order to restrict gender transition procedures for people under age 19.
Trump also used transgender rights as a cleavage during the 2024 election campaign.
One of Trump’s most successful attack lines against his election rival targeted her support for trans rights.
He said: “Kamala Harris is for they/them. President Trump his for you”.
Who is Imane Khelif?
Algerian boxer Imane Khelife fought her way to welterweight gold at Paris 2024, although her participation at the Games was shrouded in controversy.
Khelif competed 13 months after allegedly failing gender eligibility tests administered by the Russian-backed International Boxing Association.
Unsubstantiated claims she was born a male spread like wildfire on social media after Italy’s Angela Carini quit their tournament opener after 46 seconds.
Khelif has previously insisted she is a biological female, stating: “As for whether I qualify or not, whether I am a woman or not, I have made many statements in the media.
“I am fully qualified to take part in this competition. I’m a woman like any other woman. I was born a woman, I lived as a woman, I competed as a woman, there’s no doubt about that.”
Officials found tests showed Khelif had ‘XY chromosomes’ — which indicates a person is biologically male.
Rare ‘intersex’ medical conditions, medically known as differences in sexual development (DSDs), can also mean outwardly female individuals can have ‘male’ chromosomes, or vice versa.
The IOC said this was fine for Khelif to compete saying that she cleared the rules that had been set.
A year prior to the Olympics, Khelif was disqualified from the Women’s World Championships for failing the International Boxing Association’s (IBA) gender eligibility rules.
But the Russian-led body was stripped of its governance by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over integrity and governance issues.
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