At an Oklahoma rally, Donald Trump warned that 'radical left Democrat Communists' would allow 'men playing in women's sports,' using the issue to frame the midterm election choice. He singled out Enes Kanter Freedom — who has mockingly declared himself WNBA-eligible — and criticized the stunt. Data cited at a December 2024 Senate hearing showed fewer than 10 transgender college athletes among roughly 510,000 competitors, a fraction well under 0.01%. Vox reporter Katelyn Burns called bans on transgender athletes 'a solution in search of a problem,' and the WNBA says no transgender woman has played in the league and that it has no immediate eligibility issues.
Trump Says 'Radical Left Democrat Communists' Would Let 'Men Play In Women's Sports' — Calls Out Enes Kanter Freedom
President Donald Trump speaks during a rally at the Choctaw Event Center in Durant, Okla., on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.
At a campaign rally in Oklahoma, Donald Trump renewed his criticism of transgender participation in women's sports and framed the upcoming midterm elections as a decisive choice on that issue. He warned that the 'radical left Democrat Communists' would usher in policies resulting in 'men playing in women's sports.'
Speaking to supporters, Trump listed a series of accusations against his political opponents: 'The choice in this election is very simple. You can vote for the radical left Democrat Communists who loot your wealth, raise your taxes by $4 trillion, annihilate your borders, shut down Oklahoma oil and gas, mutilate your children – your transgender children – have men playing in women's sports.'
Trump also singled out former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom, who attended the rally. In recent weeks Kanter Freedom has drawn attention for mockingly declaring himself eligible for the WNBA as a satirical stunt. Trump described those actions in disparaging terms, saying: 'In all fairness, this guy is a monster. He dreams of playing against women. In fact, he's willing to say that he's a woman in order to play against women, and I don't think he really believes that, but that's OK. These are minor details.'
Context And Facts
While the issue attracts heated rhetoric on the campaign trail, available data indicate transgender athletes represent a very small share of competitors. At a December 2024 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, NCAA president Charlie Baker told lawmakers he was aware of fewer than 10 transgender athletes competing in college sports out of roughly 510,000 total athletes — a share of under 0.002% of NCAA competitors.
Vox reporter Katelyn Burns, who has tracked state-level anti-trans legislation, described bans on transgender athletes as 'a solution in search of a problem.'
Regarding professional women’s basketball, no transgender woman has ever played in the WNBA. The league has discussed eligibility rules for transgender athletes but has not announced a new policy and recently said there were no immediate eligibility matters affecting the league.
Political Context
Trump’s comments tie social and cultural issues to broader political themes as the midterm elections approach. The remarks reflect ongoing national debates over transgender rights, sports policy, and how such issues are used on the campaign trail.
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