In a move that has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation from LGBTQ+ advocates, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order banning transgender women athletes from competing in female sports. This sweeping policy change has far-reaching implications for the rights and freedoms of transgender individuals, who have long faced discrimination and marginalization in the United States. By instituting this ban, the Trump administration is effectively erasing the identities and experiences of transgender women, and perpetuating a harmful and discriminatory narrative that has no place in modern American society.

Donald Trump has issued an executive order prohibiting transgender women from competing in female sports.

The order aims to restrict individuals assigned male at birth from participating in certain athletic competitions, including school sports.

The order, titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” mandates the “immediate enforcement” of rules against schools and athletic associations that fail to provide women with single-sex sports and changing rooms.

Issued on National Girls and Women in Sports Day, the order reflects a significant shift in the federal government’s approach to transgender rights under Trump.

Before signing the order, Trump stated, “From now on, women’s sports will be exclusively for women.

“We’ve removed woke lunacy from our military, and now we’re doing the same for women’s sports.”

He also addressed the upcoming Olympics and World Cup, which the U.S. is hosting, stating that transgender athletes would not be allowed to compete.

“In Los Angeles in 2028, my administration will not stand by and watch men beat and batter female athletes,” he said.

“We’re not going to let it happen.“

“To ensure enforcement, I am also directing the Secretary of Homeland Security to reject all visa applications from men falsely identifying as women athletes in an attempt to enter the U.S. for the games,” Trump stated.

As he signed the order, surrounded by women and girls, he declared, “The war on women’s sports is over.”

The order grants the Education Department the authority to penalize schools that permit transgender athletes to compete, with violations potentially resulting in the loss of federal funding.

Despite making up a small portion of the U.S. population, transgender individuals have been the focus of three executive orders signed by Trump since taking office, according to Sky News’ U.S. partner, NBC News.

These orders have restricted military participation and access to gender-affirming care.

On his first day in office last month, Trump signed an order mandating that the federal government recognize only two genders—male and female.

During his campaign, Trump vowed to “keep men out of women’s sports” and eliminate what he called “transgender insanity,” though his office provided few specifics.

Olivia Hunt, director of federal policy at Advocates for Trans Equality, told Sky News’ Yalda Hakim that the order goes beyond elite athletes and would also affect young children and their development.

“We’re essentially telling these children that we don’t believe it’s important for them to develop the same skills as their peers through sports,” she said.

“We are setting you aside, putting you apart, and saying you’re different and it’s okay for you to be set aside, treated differently, and bullied by your peers.

“Children should be protected. Children should be allowed to follow their interests, follow the sports they want to participate in and not have to worry that public officials will treat their existence as a cheap round of applause.”

This is the latest in a flurry of executive orders the Republican president has enacted in his first days and weeks in office.

Some of these have been blocked by judges, and it is not yet clear if this order will avoid such a fate.

It will likely involve how the Trump administration interprets Title IX – a civil rights law that prevents sex-based discrimination in education programmes or activities that receive federal funding.

Ahead of the signing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the order “upholds the promise of Title IX”.