Former President Donald Trump misjudged trans athlete Leah Thomas when he said he would ban trans women from women’s sports.
The former president held a rally in Waukesha, Wisconsin, on Friday as he campaigned for his favorite Republican candidate in this month’s primary and November’s midterm elections.
“We will also keep men out of women’s sports,” he said. Mr. Trump then cited the example of Ms. Thomas, a University of Pennsylvania swimmer who later won first place in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I swimming championships.
She has since been cited by many conservatives as an example of her having an unfair advantage. Mr Trump said a female swimmer was denied the right to break the record because of Ms Thomas.
“By the way, he was just awarded Sportswoman of the Year, you know what,” Mr Trump booed and booed the crowd in Waukesha. “Is our country going to hell or what?”
Mr Trump continued to misjudge her gender, saying “he has this wingspan” showing how tall she is.
Mr Trump also cited another transgender athlete, this time a weightlifter, who he said had an unfair advantage and again misjudged his gender.
The former president’s remarks come as a number of Republican governors have signed legislation banning transgender women from women’s sports. He also criticized teachers for talking with students about gender and sexuality.
“No teacher should be allowed to teach transgender to our children without parental consent,” he added. “What they’re doing to your kids behind your back is basically insane.”
Mr Trump added that when Republicans win the majority, they need to crack down on drug companies supplying puberty blockers “to mutilate our young people”.
“We will save our children, and all federal bureaucrats involved in this farce need to be fired immediately,” he said.
Mr. Trump also campaigned with his favorite gubernatorial candidate, Tom Michelle, and has spoken of his support for that candidate to challenge Wisconsin House Speaker Robin Worth, which Trump reportedly tried to pressure to cancel the 2020 vote. Certification of annual election results.
The rally took place on the same day the Republican National Committee announced it would host its 2024 convention in Milwaukee.
