Transgender Olympic U.S. athlete Chris Mosier spoke out on social media on Wednesday on President Donald Trump's executive order preventing transgender athletes from competing in women's and girls' sports.
Newsweek has reached out to Mosier via online email form for comment.
Why It Matters
After campaigning heavily about transgender issues, one of Trump's first executive orders declared that there are only two genders: "male and female." Last week, Trump signed another executive order instructing agencies to ensure that hospitals receiving federal research and education grants "end the chemical and surgical mutilation of children." He also signed an order to prevent transgender service members within the military.
What To Know
Trump signed an executive order Wednesday banning transgender athletes from participating in women's sports. The order, titled "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports," directs federal agencies to enforce Title IX—a landmark civil rights law protecting against sex-based discrimination in education—under an interpretation that defines sex strictly by biological assignment at birth.
The directive grants federal agencies broad authority to penalize schools and athletic organizations that do not comply. The order also calls on state attorneys general to establish enforcement measures and legal strategies to uphold the new mandate.
"Under the Trump administration, we will defend the proud tradition of female athletes, and we will not allow men to beat up, injure and cheat our women and our girls," Trump said.
In response to the order, Mosier, who is a transgender rights activist and competitive triathlete, condemned the order in a video posted to Instagram on Wednesday as a way to "weaponize Title IX."
"Today's executive order seeks to weaponize Title IX to ban transgender athletes from participating in women's sports. But the truth is Title IX is law, it was passed by Congress and executive orders cannot override law, executive orders cannot change the law. Executive orders can direct federal agencies to create new rules and regulations and to enforce those rules and regulations through the agencies."
Mosier continued by stating that while the order "can create fear and confusion...it actually cannot change the law."
"That means that transgender, non-binary and intersex students are still protected under Title IX no matter what the president is trying to do with this discriminatory executive order," Mosier said.
Mosier is the first transgender athlete to represent the United States in international competition and the first transgender athlete to qualify for the Olympic Trials in the gender they identify.
While it's unclear how the order will be enforced, the White House warned if universities don't comply they could not only lose federal funding but also face legal action, according to ABC News.
Trump On Transgender Olympic Athletes
Mosier's remarks also come as Trump also announced Wednesday that he would direct Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to "reject any and all visa applications made by men attempting to fraudulently enter the United States while identifying as women athletes."
The president made the statement as he spoke about the 2028 Summer Olympic Games that will take place in Los Angeles.
"I'm also directing our Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem...to deny any and all Visa applications made by men attempting to fraudulently enter the United States while identifying themselves as women athletes," Trump said. "Trying to get into the games maybe where they are unable to get into the games."
The Summer Olympics will be held from July 14 to 30, 2028. Los Angeles is the host city, and other events will be held in Oklahoma City. This will mark the fifth Summer Olympics and ninth overall games hosted in the United States.
"In Los Angeles, in 2028, my administration will not stand by and watch men beat and batter our female athletes," Trump said. "In Los Angeles, in 2028, my administration will not stand by and watch men beat and batter our female athletes. We're just not going to let it happen. It's going to end. It's ending right now, and nobody is going to be able to do a damn thing about it because when I speak, we speak with authority."
What People Are Saying
Representative Nancy Mace, in a statement to Newsweek: "For too long, the Left has sacrificed women's rights on the altar of woke politics. Women's sports exist for a reason—because biological differences matter. No amount of activism, corporate pressure, or lies can erase reality—men are biologically different from women.
"This executive order restores fairness, upholds Title IX's original intent, and defends the rights of female athletes who have worked their whole lives to compete at the highest levels."
Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson said in a statement on Tuesday, per ABC News: "This order could expose young people to harassment and discrimination, emboldening people to question the gender of kids who don't fit a narrow view of how they're supposed to dress or look. Participating in sports is about learning the values of teamwork, dedication, and perseverance. And for so many students, sports are about finding somewhere to belong. We should want that for all kids – not partisan policies that make life harder for them."
Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Women's Law Center told the Associated Press Wednesday: "Contrary to what the president wants you to believe, trans students do not pose threats to sports, schools or this country, and they deserve the same opportunities as their peers to learn, play and grow up in safe environments."
What Happens Next
Trump's latest executive order is expected to spark legal battles and deepen national divisions over gender and athletics. Meanwhile, the Olympics will be held in Los Angeles in 2028, during the last summer of Trump's second term in office.
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