Rapinoe Slams Trump’s Transgender Athlete Ban as ‘Cruel and Depraved’
Megan Rapinoe, the celebrated former US Women’s National Team (USWNT) star, has launched a scathing attack on President Donald Trump’s recent executive order that effectively bars transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports. Rapinoe described the measure as "cruel and depraved" and questioned the motives behind its implementation.
In an interview published in MUNDIAL magazine, conducted just a day after Trump signed the "Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports" executive order last month, Rapinoe expressed deep concern about Trump’s rhetoric surrounding transgender individuals, particularly those involved in athletics. She argued that the justification of protecting women’s sports was a disingenuous attempt to mask the true intent of the policy.
"Don’t tell me it’s about the rights of women’s sports," Rapinoe stated emphatically. "That is totally just disingenuous to say that. I think it’s just really cruel. You know, if you strip it all back, it’s just kind of cruel and depraved. This isn’t an issue, and you aren’t going to be able to Executive Order trans people out of existence."
Rapinoe highlighted the progress that has been made in recent years towards achieving equal rights and non-discrimination for women in sports. She expressed dismay that such strides could be jeopardized by the new executive order, claiming that the policy seeks to erase the advancements that have been made.
"We’ve just gone through a very long period over ten years of really needing to fight just to get to a baseline of, like, equal rights and non-discriminatory behavior, and when people stop just s—-ing on women’s sports. I think we are sort of at that moment," Rapinoe explained.
The executive order mandates that entities receiving federal funding must adhere to Title IX, which the Trump administration recently modified to recognize protections based on biological sex. This change effectively reversed former President Joe Biden’s 2024 rewrite, which had broadened the interpretation of Title IX to include gender identity.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights has already found the state of Maine in violation of Title IX for allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports, signaling the potential ramifications of the executive order.
Rapinoe, who has been a vocal critic of Trump for years, had previously expressed fears for the transgender community following Trump’s election victory. In a November podcast appearance, she described feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of a Trump presidency and the potential for instability and discrimination.
"I feel overwhelmed by the reality that is going to be a Trump presidency, which we have seen before – so I don’t feel like I’m saying anything new – but the reality where like anything crazy could happen any day. I think that is really overwhelming," Rapinoe said on her podcast, "A Touch More."
She continued, "I think that I feel – not so much personally scared, because I think that we live in very progressive places, we’re unbelievably privileged in our place in the world and life and financially and all of these things, but I think that fear extends to just people in general that will be really affected. I’m thinking of all my trans friends and people that I know and trans kids. I’m thinking about the potential of mass deportations if that is going to happen, and just like the general chaos that’s going to be sown is really overwhelming."
Rapinoe’s recent interview concluded with a call to action for other athletes to utilize their platforms to advocate for change and speak out against injustice. She emphasized the power that athletes possess and urged them to become involved in shaping a more inclusive and equitable society.
"There’s so many ways that we can grow and kind of codify lasting change," she said. "And I always encourage players specifically to be involved and use their voice. Players, actually, are always the most powerful people in sports."
Rapinoe’s comments are likely to further inflame the ongoing debate surrounding transgender athletes and their participation in sports. The issue has become increasingly politicized, with passionate arguments being made on both sides. Opponents of transgender athletes competing in women’s sports argue that it creates an unfair competitive advantage, while proponents argue that it is a matter of inclusivity and fairness.
Rapinoe’s outspoken stance on the issue is consistent with her history of activism and advocacy for social justice causes. She has been a vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, gender equality, and racial justice, and has consistently used her platform to raise awareness and promote change. Her latest comments are sure to resonate with many athletes and activists who share her concerns about the impact of Trump’s policies on the transgender community.
