President Donald Trump celebrated a recent Supreme Court ruling on transgender athletes, calling it a “big win.” The Court ruled in favor of West Virginia and Idaho against trans athletes seeking access to girls’ sports, with a decision of 6-3.
Trump took to Truth Social to express his support for the ruling, posting that the United States Supreme Court opposed “men playing in women’s sports.” This decision aligns with an executive order signed by Trump, which bars transgender female athletes from competing in women’s sporting events.
The Supreme Court emphasized that decisions about trans athletes in women’s sports should be made at the state level. Justice Sotomayor, joined by Justices Kagan and Jackson, filed opinions concurring in part and dissenting in part.
Consistent with Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause, we hold that States may maintain women’s sports for biological females.
The law firm Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) backed the states, while the trans athletes were represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Cooley Legal.
Over half of U.S. states can now enforce protection of women’s sports without legal challenges. However, 23 states lack such laws, with some protecting trans athletes in girls’ sports.
Trump’s “No Men In Women’s Sports” executive order, signed in 2025, intensified restrictions on trans athletes. It led to conflicts, such as with Maine Gov. Janet Mills, where Trump threatened to halt federal funding to states not adhering to his order. Though he froze funds to Maine, a federal judge later required them to be unfrozen, but current state laws provide protection.
Secretary Linda McMahon commented on the ruling, affirming states’ rights to prohibit men from competing in women’s sports and stating the Trump Administration’s commitment to restoring Title IX protections for women and girls.
Surveys indicate approximately 80% of Americans oppose biological males competing against females. These developments reflect a significant shift in the landscape of women’s sports policy.