Former President Donald Trump praised the Supreme Court’s recent decision on transgender athletes. The court ruled 6-3, favoring West Virginia and Idaho, against permitting trans athletes to participate in girls’ sports.
In a message on Truth Social, Trump expressed satisfaction with the decision, describing it as a resolution to the contentious issue of men participating in women’s sports.
Previously, Trump had signed an executive order that prevented transgender female athletes from competing in sports designated for women or girls. This action was officially documented on February 5, 2025.
The Supreme Court ruling empowers individual states to make their own decisions about trans athletes’ participation in women’s sports. This ruling primarily aligns with the states’ ability to base eligibility on biological sex.
The decision has implications for Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause, supporting states in maintaining sports for biological females.
The ruling saw agreement and disagreement even within the court. Justice Sotomayor, along with Justices Kagan and Jackson, filed opinions that reflected a mix of concurrence and dissent.
The ruling allows over half of the U.S. states to enforce women’s sports protections without looming legal challenges. However, 23 states have no such legislation, and some actively protect trans athletes’ rights in girls’ sports.
This decision accompanies the presence of the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), which supported the states, while the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Cooley Legal represented the trans athletes.
The judicial decision complements Trump’s previous actions, where he threatened to freeze federal funds for non-compliant states, although Maine successfully challenged this in court.
Linda McMahon, Education Secretary, noted the ruling as reaffirming the rights to preserve female-only sports spaces and uphold Title IX protections. She highlighted the administration’s longstanding effort in securing educational opportunities for women and girls.
Surveys indicate about 80% of Americans do not support biological males competing with girls and women in sports.