Trump Discusses Transgender Athletes During Juventus Soccer Team Visit
President raised questions about gender in sports during White House meeting
President Donald Trump welcomed members of the Italian Juventus Club World Cup soccer team to the Oval Office on Wednesday. During the meeting, which included FIFA president Gianni Infantino and team executives, Trump initiated a discussion about gender in sports by asking team representatives if a woman could make their team. When Juventus' general manager mentioned they have a successful women's team, Trump responded that women should compete with women.
The meeting occurred as the Juventus team, which includes American players Timothy Weah and Weston McKennie, was in Washington D.C. to play against Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates at Audi Field. The soccer match is part of the Club World Cup tournament taking place in the United States from June to July, featuring thirty-two teams. Team representatives stood behind the president during the Oval Office event.
KEY POINTS
- •Trump hosted Juventus soccer team
- •President discussed gender in sports
- •Referenced his transgender athlete order
The conversation relates to Trump's executive order regarding transgender athletes in women's sports. The order, signed in February, directs the Secretary of State to encourage the International Olympic Committee to amend standards for Olympic sporting events to ensure eligibility for women's competitions is determined by biological sex rather than gender identity. Trump has previously stated he wants the International Olympic Committee to address this issue before the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.
According to data cited in the article, transgender athletes represent a small percentage of NCAA participants, with approximately 40 known transgender athletes among more than 500,000 NCAA competitors. The article also notes that the NCAA has aligned with Trump's executive order. Additionally, the report mentions a 2023 review of research published in Sports Medicine that found no evidence of competitive advantages for transgender athletes.
On the same day as the Juventus team visit, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling allowing Tennessee's state law banning gender-affirming care for minors to remain in effect. This ruling represents another development in the ongoing legal and policy discussions surrounding transgender rights in the United States.