Former President Donald Trump, during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, falsely labeled two female Olympic gold medalist boxers as men. Trump, who has consistently voiced opposition to transgender participation in women’s sports, directed his comments at the recently concluded Olympic Games.
Speaking to his supporters, Trump claimed, “They were men.They transitioned to women, and they were in the boxing.” Though he did not mention them by name, his remarks were aimed at Imane Khelif of Algeria and Li Yu-ting of Taiwan. Both athletes have faced unfounded rumors about their gender after the now-banned International Boxing Association disqualified them from the world championships last year, citing an unspecified eligibility test.
Despite being born and raised as women, Khelif and Li became embroiled in a broader debate on gender and sports, especially in the West. Trump’s comments were not only factually incorrect but also reflective of his ongoing criticism of transgender athletes, a recurring theme in his public speeches.
Trump previously referred to Khelif as a man and reiterated his stance on Saturday, describing the situation as “crazy” and “demeaning to women.” His remarks continue to fuel controversy in discussions about gender identity in sports.
When the controversy surrounding Khelif erupted on August 6, a spokesperson for Trump’s campaign stated that the former U.S. president has been consistently clear about his stance against men competing in women’s sports. The spokesperson called it “an insane and unfair reality allowed by Radical Left politicians like Kamala Harris.”