President-elect Donald Trump has made commitments to roll back transgender rights policies on his first day in office, emphasizing a return to traditional views on gender and military service. Speaking at the AmericaFest conference in Phoenix, Arizona, Trump vowed to address what he called the “transgender madness” that he claims has permeated American institutions.
“I will sign an executive order to end child sexual abuse, I will end transgender policies in the military and in our elementary, middle, and high schools,” Trump said. He also emphasized the need to “keep men out of women’s sports,” asserting that the US government officially recognizes only two genders: male and female.
These remarks are part of a broader effort to dismantle progressive policies, coming at a time when the Republican-controlled Congress has passed provisions impacting transgender individuals, such as restrictions on benefits for children of transgender service members.
Trump’s comments are part of his larger agenda, which includes a crackdown on what he describes as “immigrant crime” and a promise to restore US control over the Panama Canal, which has faced issues such as high tariffs for American ships. He also focused on foreign policy, pledging to end the war in Ukraine and curb Middle Eastern chaos, while criticizing the Biden administration for its handling of international relations.
Under the Biden administration, the US began offering American passports with a gender “X” option for non-binary, intersex, and gender nonconforming individuals in October 2021. In New York, residents gained the right in 2018 to indicate a third “unspecified” gender option on personal documents, reflecting a shift towards greater inclusivity.
