President Donald Trump has escalated his campaign against transgender athletes by targeting the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in preparation for the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles. A recent executive order signed by Trump aims to prohibit transgender athletes from women’s sports and urges the IOC to revise Olympic event standards to prioritize fairness, safety, and the interests of female athletes based on biological sex. The order also calls for adjustments to U.S. policies regarding male participation in women’s sports.

Outgoing IOC President Thomas Bach expressed confidence in collaborating with the Trump administration, while LA28 organizing committee officials have yet to comment on the matter. The IOC has traditionally deferred to individual sports governing bodies on transgender athlete participation rules, with varying levels of stringency across different sports. The potential shift in the IOC’s stance may occur following Bach’s retirement, with candidates like former track star Sebastian Coe advocating for restricting female sports to cisgender women.

Trump’s order has reignited the discourse on transgender athletes, with the President criticizing two transgender female boxers who won gold at the Paris Olympics. This executive action raises questions about the extent of U.S. influence on the IOC and the possibility of global sports federations rallying for a unified standard. As the debate unfolds, Trump’s directive could prompt international sports bodies to reevaluate their approach to transgender athlete inclusion in competitive events.