Trump Questions Juventus Players on Transgender Athletes

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During Juventus’s White House visit on June 18, 2025, ahead of the Club World Cup opener, former President Donald Trump shifted the focus from soccer to politics.
In a moment that left players visibly uneasy, Trump directed pointed questions at the team and officials, asking, “Could a woman make your team, fellas?” The question caught Juventus General Manager Damien Comolli and players Weston McKennie and Timothy Weah off guard.
A Surprising Moment in the Oval Office
Comolli tried to defuse the situation by noting, “We have a very good women’s team,” referencing Juventus Women. When Trump countered, “But they should be playing with women,” no one offered a direct rebuttal. Trump praised the diplomatic silence, commenting, “See, they’re being very diplomatic”.

Trump & Politics in the Pitch
Trump’s line of questioning fit into his broader agenda on so-called “gender ideology.” In February, he signed an executive order banning transgender women and girls from female sports teams, invoking Title IX enforcement. He’s also signaled his intention to withhold federal funding from schools and institutions that permit transgender participation in gendered sports.
The White House moment blurred the lines between sports diplomacy and partisan debate, with Trump tying the issue to his previous targets, such as Biden administration policies, open borders, and Iran.
Players’ Surprise and Media Backdrop
Juventus players later described the political detour as unexpected and uncomfortable, particularly for those focused on football. Tim Weah expressed his surprise, saying he “just want[s] to play football,” and found the political discourse “not that exciting”.
This tense encounter occurred amid a broader clash over transgender rights: just hours earlier, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors. Trump’s actions thus reinforced an overarching push against trans inclusion across gendered institutions.
What This Trump Question Means for Sports Diplomacy and Trans Rights
This incident is emblematic of an evolving dynamic: sports events, even on neutral turf, are increasingly becoming arenas for culture war debates. Trump used the high-profile visit to advocate his policy agenda and champion conservative values, even if it diverged from the original purpose of the meeting.

For Juventus—a storied Italian club on U.S. soil for a sporting showcase—the encounter turned into an unexpected lesson in political etiquette. Players and staff were compelled to navigate tension between American political theater and international sportsmanship.
Looking Ahead
The push to exclude transgender women from sports continues at multiple levels: through executive orders, Supreme Court decisions, and continental sports policies. For global sports communities and international teams like Juventus, such politicization may become a recurring challenge, affecting future visits and cross-border events.
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