Trump Vows to Ban Transgender Athletes From Competing in Women’s Sports

Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday proposed a straightforward approach to addressing the controversy surrounding transgender athletes competing in women’s sports, declaring: “You just ban it.”

Speaking at a Fox News town hall hosted by Harris Faulkner, Trump was asked by a member of the all-female audience how he would tackle the “transgender issue in women’s sports.”

Former President Donald Trump said that he would “ban” transgender women from competing in women’s sports. FOX News

In response, he described the question as “such an easy” one, making it clear that, if given the chance, he would immediately stop it.

“Everybody in the room, and you know that answer. We’re not going to let it happen,” Trump said, emphasising the risks posed by transgender athletes competing against women.

He further illustrated his point by referencing a recent incident in women’s volleyball.

Trump recounted a case in which a San Diego State University women’s volleyball player was struck in the face by a ball hit by an opponent who had transitioned from male to female, knocking her to the ground. “I saw the slam; it was a slam.

I never saw a ball hit so hard, hit the girl in the head,” he said. “Other people, even in volleyball, they’ve been permanently hurt badly. Women playing men.”

Trump doubled down on his stance, repeating his belief that such situations shouldn’t be allowed to occur. “But you don’t have to do the volleyball. We stop it. We stop it. We stop it. You can’t have it,” he reiterated.

The former president, 78, argued that the biological differences between males and females create an unfair — and sometimes dangerous — advantage for transgender athletes competing in women’s sports. “It’s a man playing in the game,” Trump said.

“Physically, from a muscular standpoint, even if it’s a little bit less, they do all sorts of tests and drugs and everything else.”

Trump highlighted the controversy surrounding transgender San Jose State volleyball player Blaire Fleming. Instagram/@blaire.fleming

Trump discussed a recent video clip of an opponent getting hit in the head by a ball spiked by Fleming during a game. ICONS, /X

He also pointed to examples in other sports, such as swimming, where he claimed transgender athletes are breaking records, adding to the list of what he views as injustices in women’s competitions.

Trump said he “never saw a ball hit so hard.” ICONS, /X

Faulkner, the town hall moderator, pressed Trump on how he would practically implement his plan, asking, “How do you stop it? Do you go to the sports leagues? Do you go to the Olympics?”

Trump said that people born biologically male have an unfair and potentially dangerous advantage in women’s sports. San Josee State Volleyball

Trump’s answer was swift: “You just ban it. The president bans it. You just don’t let it happen.”

Trump remarked that it was an “easy question.” AP

The remarks come as the issue of transgender athletes in women’s sports continues to ignite debate across the country, with many states passing legislation restricting participation in sports based on biological sex.

Trump’s comments indicate that the topic may be significant in the 2024 presidential election.