WASHINGTON D.C., United States — US President Donald Trump has reignited controversy over transgender participation in women’s sports, using a speech to Republican lawmakers to mock transgender athletes and advance political arguments ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Speaking on Tuesday, January 6, during a closed-door address to Republican members of the US House of Representatives, Trump singled out examples from weightlifting and boxing as he criticised the inclusion of transgender competitors in women’s sporting categories.
During his remarks, Trump referred to Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif, describing a bout in which he said a fighter who had transitioned overwhelmed a female opponent.
However, Khelif, who won gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has always competed in women’s boxing, and no medical or official sporting authority has produced any evidence indicating that she is transgender or that she has XY chromosomes.
The comments drew swift criticism from sports analysts and advocacy groups, who accused the President of misrepresenting the athlete and fueling misinformation in an already polarised debate.
Trump went on to claim that two transgender athletes won gold medals at the Paris Games, calling the situation “ridiculous” and saying the issue was “demeaning to women.”
The speech formed part of a broader political message in which the President warned his party that control of Congress in the 2026 midterms would be decisive for his presidency. He told lawmakers that Republicans must hold both chambers or face a renewed attempt by Democrats to remove him from office.
According to those present, Trump said Democrats would “find a reason” to remove him if the party lost control of Congress.
He urged Republican leaders to present a more unified front on several high-profile policy fronts, including gender policy, healthcare reform and election integrity, arguing that internal divisions were weakening the party’s public message.
Trump also disclosed plans to hold talks with senior executives from major US health insurance companies in the coming days, as rising healthcare costs and access to coverage are expected to feature prominently in the 2026 campaign cycle.
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The president’s remarks come amid escalating legal and political battles surrounding transgender participation in sport across the United States.
Several Republican-led states have enacted laws restricting transgender athletes from competing in school and collegiate women’s sports, while federal courts continue to weigh the constitutionality of those measures.
International sporting bodies, including the International Olympic Committee, maintain policies that require individual sports federations to determine eligibility criteria based on competitive fairness and athlete safety, frameworks that remain the subject of intense scientific, legal and ethical debate.
