By Abigail Philip David
U.S. President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order on Wednesday banning transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports, marking his latest policy move targeting transgender rights since returning to office.
The White House confirmed the decision in its daily schedule, announcing that Trump would sign the “No Men in Women’s Sports Executive Order” at 3:00 PM (2000 GMT).
“Today, President Trump will deliver on his promise to PROTECT WOMEN’S SPORTS!” Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly posted on X, adding that the order aims to “end the dangerous and unfair participation of men in women’s sports.”
Trump, who made the pledge during his re-election campaign, repeatedly criticized transgender athletes, using the issue to attack Democratic opponent Kamala Harris and her stance on trans rights.
Since his return to office on January 20, the 78-year-old president has aggressively pursued policies restricting transgender rights. He has already signed executive orders banning transgender individuals from serving in the military and prohibiting gender transition procedures for minors under 19.
This latest action follows the Republican-led House of Representatives’ passage of a bill in January that sought to limit transgender athletes’ participation in girls’ and women’s sports.
Republicans have used transgender issues—especially in youth sports—as a major political talking point, framing it as part of a broader cultural battle over gender and LGBTQ rights. As transgender visibility has grown in the U.S., many conservatives have rallied around protecting women’s sports, arguing that allowing transgender women to compete undermines fairness.
