What Is Melania Trump's Stance On Transgender Athletes In Women's Sports? New Memoir Reveals Insights

In her new memoir Melania, released Tuesday, Melania Trump expresses conservative views on transgender athletes competing in women’s sports, aligning with her husband Donald Trump’s stance. Melania Trump's stance is similar to his own, but she also points out where they diverge on other matters, most notably abortion rights. In an unexpected departure, the former first lady views abortion access as a “fundamental right.” President Joe Biden commended Melania Trump for her “candor and courage” in an early reaction to the biography. Vice President Kamala Harris apparently did not receive a call from the former first lady's staff to discuss the book. Writing on the inclusion of transgender athletes in women's sports, Melania critiques the possibility of perceived physical advantages. She explains how the advantages that "male-born athletes who identify as female" may have in lung capacity, height, bone density, and muscle strength may have an effect on equity. She asserts that because of this argument, there are now more rifts in society as certain groups try to "impose their ideologies on everyone." Melania expresses her worries on equity by stating that even one transgender athlete has the potential to "upset the balance" in female sports, particularly in high school. She contends that young athletes pursuing university prospects may be negatively impacted by this potential advantage. "Some argue that trans-athletes are few in number, but these physical advantages can upset the balance in a female league or tournament," the author adds. Melania thinks the effects could go beyond high school athletics and have an influence on the drive for equal pay in sports as well as future compensation for professional players.Melania stresses the significance of "protecting and respecting female athletes" while reiterating her support for LGBTQIA+ rights. Her remarks echoed previous remarks made by Donald Trump regarding transgender athletes. During the summer, Trump made the unsupported assertion that Olympic female boxers Li Yu-ting and Imane Khelif were transgender, which sparked reaction and a wave of animosity toward the competitors. During rallies in Wisconsin and Nevada, Donald Trump has increased his criticism of transgender athletes in sports and vowed to keep "transgender insanity the hell out of our schools." He also asserted—without providing any supporting data—that minors are being coerced into having "sex-change surgery" against their choice.Additionally, Melania discusses additional private subjects in her biography. She talks about a letter she wrote to King Charles III, her adventures as a model, and the birth of her son Barron Trump, including the bullying he endured. She implicates her aides in the 2016 plagiarism incident involving a speech by Michelle Obama and raises the possibility of a plot including an attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.