Former President Donald Trump's 2022 remarks about recruiting LeBron James to a women's basketball team have resurfaced amidst ongoing debate surrounding transgender athletes in women's sports. The comments, made during a July 2022 speech at the America First Policy Institute, gained renewed attention on social media in August 2026.
In the resurfaced clip, Trump stated he would be the "greatest women’s basketball coach in history" if he could ask LeBron James if he had "any desire to be a woman" to play for his team. He added, "what I’d love you to do is star on my team that I’m building up. I’ll have the greatest team in history. They’ll never lose. Nobody will come within 70 points of this team."
The renewed attention on Trump's remarks coincides with a public debate sparked by Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham's stance on transgender athletes in women's sports. Cunningham's comments, published in an ESPN feature, have led to rallies and counter-rallies outside WNBA games.
Supporters of Cunningham have organized events in various cities, including Minneapolis, ahead of the Indiana Fever's games. Some of these gatherings have reportedly been met with counter-protests from pro-trans activists.
Cunningham has maintained her position on the issue, stating on July 22, "I said what I said. I think it’s kind of common sense. I think I’ll always believe in that. I think it’s really important to protect children and that’s little girls who are also involved in that category. So, I stand on what I said and I’ll always believe that."
Media figures, coaches, and columnists have offered various responses to Cunningham's comments, with some emphasizing inclusivity in sports and others labeling her remarks as discriminatory. The broader conversation has touched upon issues of inclusion and the definition of women's sports categories.