On January 20, Donald Trump is set to be sworn in as the U.S. president for a second term.
Even before his inauguration, Trump is actively assembling his administration and outlining his agenda for the next four years.
Speaking at AmericaFest in Phoenix, Arizona, on Sunday, Trump made a bold promise to end what he called the “transgender madness” on the very first day of his presidency.
Trump’s Policy on Gender Issues
In his address to the conservative conference, Trump declared that the official policy of his administration would recognize “only two genders: male and female.” He pledged to sign executive orders banning what he described as “the sexual mutilation of children” and to remove transgender individuals from the military and schools.
He also vowed to protect women’s sports by barring transgender women from participating. “We will keep men out of women’s sports,” Trump proclaimed, earning applause from the audience.
The U.S. Debate Over Transgender Rights
Transgender issues have become a polarizing topic in the U.S., with stark divides between Democratic and Republican-controlled states. Republican states have increasingly passed laws restricting gender-affirming medical care for minors and limiting discussions of gender identity in schools and libraries.
Trump’s stance aligns with these legislative efforts, further intensifying the national debate.
Elon Musk and Trump’s Alliance
During his speech, Trump also addressed concerns about Elon Musk’s political influence. Musk, who has been tapped to lead a new government department focused on reducing bureaucracy, has faced criticism over his growing alignment with conservative values.
Trump reassured the crowd that Musk would not overshadow him politically. “He will not be president, I can tell you that,” Trump said, adding with a laugh, “He wasn’t born in this country.”
Musk, born in South Africa and later naturalized as a U.S. citizen, is constitutionally ineligible to run for president. Trump dismissed concerns, saying he simply enjoys working with “intelligent people.”
Musk’s Ties to Transgender Issues
Adding a layer of complexity, Musk’s daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, has been a vocal critic of her father’s stance on transgender rights. Since coming out as a transgender woman in 2020, Wilson has publicly distanced herself from Musk, a point often highlighted in media discussions about his political shift to the right.
As Trump prepares to step back into the presidency, his strong rhetoric on gender issues signals a contentious start to his second term, with policies likely to ignite further division on one of America’s most heated topics.
