Megan Rapinoe, a celebrated former star of the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT), has sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s recent executive order prohibiting transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports. Calling the order "cruel and depraved," Rapinoe voiced her concerns in a candid interview with MUNDIAL magazine published on March 17, 2025.
The interview came just a day after Trump signed the controversial executive order dubbed the "Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports" on February 5, 2025. Within the piece, Rapinoe emphasized the damaging rhetoric surrounding transgender individuals, particularly in the realm of sports, suggesting that the discourse is disingenuous and harmful.
"Don't tell me it's about the rights of women's sports. That is totally just disingenuous to say that. I think it's just really cruel. You know, if you strip it all back, it's just kind of cruel and depraved. This isn't an issue, and you aren't going to be able to Executive Order trans people out of existence," Rapinoe expressed.
The executive order mandates that all entities receiving federal funding must comply with adjustments to Title IX, which have now been revised to recognize protections based on biological sex, effectively undoing the corrective framework established under former President Joe Biden's administration. Rapinoe firmly stated that this change disregards a hard-fought battle for equal rights in sports, one that has spanned over a decade and has sought to ensure inclusive practices.
In a previous conversation last November, Rapinoe had shared her apprehensions regarding the potential outcomes of a Trump presidency, particularly its implications for the transgender community. "I feel overwhelmed by the reality that is going to be a Trump presidency, which we have seen before – so I don’t feel like I’m saying anything new – but the reality where like anything crazy could happen any day. I think that is really overwhelming," she recounted during an episode of her podcast, "A Touch More." She expressed deeper concern for her transgender friends and individuals vulnerable to the presidency’s decisions, speaking directly to the possibility of mass deportations and chaos that could ensue.
The highly recognized OL Reign forward concluded her recent interview by urging fellow athletes to utilize their platforms for meaningful advocacy. "There’s so many ways that we can grow and kind of codify lasting change. And I always encourage players specifically to be involved and use their voice. Players, actually, are always the most powerful people in sports," she noted.
Rapinoe's outspokenness reflects a growing urgency among athletes not to remain silent on matters of social justice and equality. With her steps into advocacy, she aims to inspire her peers to join the conversation and affect change within and outside the realm of sports.
As the debate surrounding inclusion in athletics continues to evolve, the importance of addressing issues affecting vulnerable communities, such as transgender athletes, remains critical. The stakes are high as the landscape of sports adaptation prompts new discussions about rights and representation, leaving leaders like Rapinoe at the forefront of a necessary fight for equity and inclusion.
