President Donald Trump hosted the popular Italian soccer club Juventus FC at the White House on Wednesday as the team was in the U.S. for the Club World Cup. During the visit, as the players stood behind Trump’s desk in the Oval Office, Trump broached the subject of transgender athletes in women’s sports during a lengthy statement. Trump suggested that men should not be allowed to compete in women’s sports and questioned the players directly about whether women could make their team. The players all exchanged glances but none gave an answer. The president then turned to face the team’s general manager Damien Comolli and posed the same question. Comolli responded by stating that they have a very good women’s team, but Trump continued to press the issue, asking if they should be playing with women. Comolli did not offer an answer, and Trump mocked the team for being very diplomatic.
Trump has made combating transgender athletes in women’s sports a central issue of his second administration. The president signed the ‘Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports’ executive order on February 5 after campaigning heavily on the issue in 2024. This order prompted the NCAA to change its gender eligibility policy to only permit biological females to compete in the women’s category. However, the move has been met with strong resistance from Democratic state leaders who have challenged the decision through legal means. Trump’s administration is already engaged in a lawsuit against Maine, and has been sued by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison over the issue as well. Federal Title IX investigations have also been opened into California and Massachusetts’ high school sports leagues.
A recent New York Times/Ipsos survey found that the majority of Americans, including a majority of Democrats, do not think transgender athletes should be permitted to compete in women’s sports. Of the 2,128 people who participated, 79% said biological males who identify as women should not be allowed to participate in women’s sports. Of the 1,025 people who identified as Democrats or leaning Democrat, 67% said transgender athletes should not be allowed to compete with women. Among 1,022 Republicans, that number was 94%. The controversy surrounding transgender athletes in women’s sports has become a significant political issue, with surveys indicating strong public support for restricting their participation.