Donald Trump asks child about trans powerlifter in another inappropriate speech
Donald Trump spoke to children in the Oval Office (Image: Getty Images)
Donald Trump spoke to children in the Oval Office to relaunch the presidential fitness test, but the event included an unconnected and frankly inappropriate segue into the bashing of a trans powerlifter.
After one boy said he planned to take up powerlifting, Trump asked if he would compete against women. The boy replied: “No.”
Trump then told the children a story about a transgender powerlifter, misgendering her as he said (as per People): Did you see that they had a man powerlifter … he decided to go the opposite direction,” before claiming she “took a record, stood for 18 years. He beat it by a 119lbs”.
It’s not clear who Trump was talking about, however on 29 April trans powerlifter JayCee Cooper won a discrimination settlement from USA Powerlifting after the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled her ban from women’s competitions violated the Minnesota Human Rights Act.
Trump also asked a child if he thought he could beat him in a fight, as well as slamming gender-affirming care for trans youngsters which he branded “transgender mutilization”. He told the children: “Don’t listen to this, kids.”
What Trump said in the Oval Office
The Oval Office appearance was framed around the relaunch of the presidential fitness test, with children gathered around Trump’s desk as he spoke to them and asked what sports they played.
The presidential fitness test is a long-running US school-based fitness assessment programme that became a cultural reference point for generations of pupils. It ran from the 1950s until 2013, but in July 2025 Trump signed an executive order to reinstate it.
The event is understood to have ranged across topics before the discussion turned to sport, including references to the bombing of Iran, “rigged” elections and the killing of protesters. Trump later returned to the children’s sporting interests, where the exchange about powerlifting led into his comments about trans athletes.
The remarks echoed a familiar political talking point about trans people in sport, delivered in a setting designed around children and school-style fitness.
Trump and LGBTQ+ politics
Trump has frequently used transgender rights and trans participation in sport in his political messaging. His public appearances and off-the-cuff remarks often generate viral clips and extensive media coverage, like when he referenced boxer Imane Khelif in another transphobic speech in January.
His administration has also faced scrutiny over LGBTQ+ policy, including a Justice Department investigation into Illinois school districts over LGBTQ+ lessons and a proposal to roll back LGBTQ+ housing protections.
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