White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has taken a firm stance against transgender athletes participating in women’s sports, vowing to eliminate what she refers to as “gender-bound athletes” from female competitions. In a recent statement, Leavitt declared, “Those people should be removed immediately to get justice for women,” emphasizing her belief that allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports undermines fairness and safety. Her comments align with the Trump administration’s broader push to enforce policies restricting transgender participation in female athletics, a position that has sparked heated debate across the nation.
Leavitt’s remarks come in the context of President Trump’s executive order, signed on February 5, 2025, titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” which defines “sex” as gender assigned at birth for the purposes of Title IX enforcement. This order aims to bar transgender women from competing in women’s sports, with potential consequences like funding cuts for non-compliant institutions. Leavitt has called on Congress to codify this order into law, arguing that it protects the integrity of women’s athletics. “You can’t say you are the party of women and then support men in women’s sports,” she stated during a White House briefing, citing polls showing widespread public opposition to transgender inclusion in female sports categories.
As a former NCAA Division II softball athlete, Leavitt frames her position as a personal commitment to defending female athletes, drawing on her own experiences to underscore the importance of fair competition. She has consistently argued that biological males possess inherent physical advantages—such as greater muscle mass and bone density—that create an uneven playing field. This view echoes sentiments from activists like Riley Gaines, who has called for prosecution of officials allowing transgender athletes in women’s sports, labeling such policies as “criminal” for prioritizing inclusion over safety and fairness.
Opponents, however, argue that these policies discriminate against transgender athletes and oversimplify complex issues surrounding gender and athletic performance. The National Women’s Law Center contends that banning transgender women perpetuates inequity and violates Title IX by targeting a marginalized group. Studies suggest that after hormone therapy, transgender women’s performance often aligns more closely with cisgender women’s, challenging claims of universal advantage. Critics also warn that such bans risk invasive gender verification tests, which have historically harmed cisgender women, particularly women of color, through harassment and abuse.
The debate remains polarized, with Leavitt’s rhetoric fueling both support and backlash. Proponents see her as a champion for women’s rights, while detractors view her stance as exclusionary and rooted in misinformation. As the Trump administration pushes investigations and lawsuits against non-compliant states like California and Maine, the fight over transgender participation in sports continues to divide, raising questions about fairness, inclusion, and the future of athletic policy in America.
