Following his re-election, President Donald Trump has taken a firm stance against the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) current policies on gender eligibility in sports, potentially leading to a conflict with the organization. Throughout his campaign, Trump promised to prohibit transgender women from participating in women’s sports, a policy he plans to implement during his second term, which will end shortly after the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Trump has publicly criticized the IOC’s decision to allow Algerian boxer Imane Khelif to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics, despite her previous disqualification from a world championship for not meeting gender eligibility criteria. When Khelif achieved an initial victory at the event, Trump posted on social media, stating, “I will keep men out of women’s sports!” This message became a central theme of his campaign, although there are concerns about how federal action on this issue could impact the upcoming Los Angeles Games in California, a stronghold for Democratic policies.
Trump’s stance on gender eligibility has garnered significant support among female voters. At a rally held just before Election Day, a women’s swim team from Roanoke College, who had previously objected to a transgender athlete competing alongside them, took the stage to endorse Trump. Praising these “brave” athletes, Trump reaffirmed his position of “Keeping men out of women’s sports.” Lily Mullens, a team captain, thanked Trump for “standing with women” and criticized President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for supporting policies that she deemed “anti-women’s sex-based discrimination.” “As female athletes, we are aware that men have a natural advantage over women in sports, and current policies allow men to compete against women of all ages in all sports,” Mullens stated. In a recent interview with Fox News, Trump reiterated this sentiment, explaining his plan of action on this issue. When asked how he would stop it, Trump replied, “You just ban it. The President bans it. You simply don’t allow it to happen.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at the Valdai International Discussion Club, expressed similar views on gender participation in sports, aligning himself with Trump’s perspective. Putin stated, “The opportunity for men to compete in women’s events is destroying women’s sports.” He also emphasized that certain sports, such as boxing and wrestling, should be reserved for women competing against each other. “Transgender individuals have no place in sporting events, including the Olympic Games,” he added, proposing that they should compete in their own categories. Putin also raised concerns about the overall atmosphere of the Paris Olympics, stating that elements of the opening ceremony were “offensive to millions of Christians.”
This criticism resonated with some of Trump’s campaign themes, as both leaders have portrayed current IOC policies as harmful to traditional values and fair competition in women’s sports. One of Trump’s final campaign videos before the election included footage of Khelif’s success, accompanied by a voice-over denouncing current policies, stating, “We gave up our borders, our paychecks, our courage. Our patriotism was deemed toxic. Men could beat up women and win medals.” As Trump prepares to implement his policies, his stance on gender eligibility in sports remains one of his most divisive and widely debated initiatives, finding solidarity with international leaders like Putin and striking a chord with voters concerned about fairness in athletic competition.
