US President Donald Trump has sparked fresh outrage after mocking trans women in sport during a summit with religious leaders held at the White House.
The comments were made during the White House Faith Office summit on Monday, 14 July, in what the administration called the “first event of its kind”. The gathering brought together a multifaith audience of prominent religious figures from across the country.
While addressing the group, Trump shared a fictional story in which he depicted a cisgender woman lining up for a competitive race, only to be overtaken by a “giant” — a reference clearly aimed at trans women.
“When the race started, he blew by her so fast, she suffered massive wind burn,” Trump joked, prompting laughter from attendees.
He continued:
“And he got out of the race, went and had a little lunch, and he came back and watched the rest of the young ladies finish.”
“The whole thing is crazy,” he added, according to The Latin Times.
Public Reaction: ‘So Mean-Spirited’
The president’s remarks were quickly condemned online, with social media users slamming both his comments and the laughter from religious leaders present.
“Not only is it mean, but it’s not even funny. Why is everyone laughing? So mean-spirited,” one user posted on Bluesky.
Another added:
“And those chuckling ‘faith leaders’ are wondering why their churches are empty. Not much godliness left there.”
A third person commented:
“Any true believer of the Bible should have stood up and left. This is hypocrisy at its finest.”
A Continuation of Anti-Trans Policy
Since beginning his second term in office, Trump has made targeting trans rights a cornerstone of his agenda.
He has already issued executive orders aimed at ending what he calls “transgender lunacy”, reinstated bans on trans women serving in the US military and participating in women’s sports, and withdrawn federal funding for gender-affirming care.
The White House Faith Office, which hosted the event, was established by executive order in February, just weeks after Trump’s return to the presidency.
Critics say Trump is using religious platforms to legitimise harmful rhetoric and discriminatory policies against the trans and wider LGBTQIA+ community.
