Trump Pushes for Genetic Testing to Bar Transgender Athletes from Women’s Events at 2028 Olympics

President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order establishing a White House task force to prepare for the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles — and used the announcement to double down on his administration’s stance against transgender athletes competing in women’s sports.

The order mirrors a similar federal task force created for the 2026 World Cup. The new group is designed to coordinate logistics and security for the Olympics, but Trump’s remarks quickly turned to the hot-button issue of gender identity in sports.

Trump thanked U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee President Gene Sykes for updating the organization’s athlete safety policy in compliance with Trump’s “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” executive order, issued earlier this year.

“The United States will not let men steal trophies from women at the 2028 Olympics,” Trump said, praising what he called a step toward fairness in women’s competition.

When asked whether transgender athletes could face prosecution, Trump said any athlete must pass “a very strong form of testing” to participate. While stopping short of committing to prosecutions, Trump said Attorney General Pam Bondi would ultimately make that decision.

One case Trump referenced was Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who won gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics amid gender-based scrutiny. Though Olympic officials repeatedly confirmed Khelif’s eligibility, Trump and others have cited her case as part of their opposition to transgender participation.

Several sports organizations, including World Athletics and World Boxing, have announced plans for one-time genetic testing for athletes. Trump said he believed the Olympic committee would have adopted stricter gender standards regardless of his involvement, but reiterated that banning transgender athletes was a central theme of his 2024 campaign.

He also took aim at California politicians, including Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, over wildfire response and building permit delays, pledging to use the National Guard or military for Olympic security if needed.

Vice President JD Vance will serve as vice chair of the Olympic task force. Trump said the event will be a showcase of American strength, promising, “It’s going to be amazing. America is a nation of champions, and in July 2028 we’ll show the world what America does best.”

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