U.S. President-elect Donald Trump pledged on Sunday to “end transgender policies” on the first day of his presidency, emphasizing a sharp shift in LGBTQ rights as Republicans prepare to maintain control of Congress and the White House.
“There will only be male and female in America,” Trump declared at the AmericaFest conference for young conservatives in Phoenix, Arizona. “I will sign executive orders to end child sexual mutilation, remove transgender individuals from the military, and keep them out of our schools.”
He further vowed to ban transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports, asserting that “it will be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female.”
The debate over transgender rights has become a divisive issue in U.S. politics, with Republican and Democratic states pursuing opposing policies on topics such as gender-affirming care, educational materials, and civil rights protections.
Last week, Congress approved a defense budget that included restrictions on funding gender-affirming medical treatments for the children of military service members.
During his speech, Trump painted a stark picture of President Joe Biden’s administration, pledging a new era of “peace, prosperity, and national greatness” under his leadership.
“On January 20, the United States will turn the page forever on four years of failure and national decline,” Trump said. He also promised to end the war in Ukraine, resolve conflicts in the Middle East, and prevent global escalations, claiming, “The golden age of America is upon us.”