As I sat down to watch President Donald Trump’s 2025 State of the Union address, I already knew what was coming. The weeks leading up to the speech had been filled with Republican lawmakers and conservative media figures stoking outrage over so-called “transgender ideology.” The political machine was already primed to turn transgender people into the latest scapegoat, a convenient distraction from pressing national issues.
Still, what I saw unfold that evening was nothing short of shocking.
Rather than focusing on economic recovery, international conflicts, or real issues impacting everyday Americans, President Trump devoted a substantial portion of his nationally televised speech to vilifying transgender individuals. It was a calculated move, one that played directly into the themes of Project 2025—a hard-right political blueprint that Trump had distanced himself from during the campaign, only to now embrace in full view of the American public.
As I pored over the transcript after the speech, fact-checking his statements and comparing them with his administration’s actual policies, it became clear: this was not a speech delivered in good faith. It was a public relations attack against a small, vulnerable community for the sake of political theater.
A Manufactured Crisis: Trump’s Obsession with Transgender Issues
In what should have been an address outlining the state of the country, Trump spent an inordinate amount of time attacking transgender people, painting them as a threat to children, fairness, and societal order. The topics he chose to highlight were as telling as they were misleading.
“Transgender Ideology” in Schools
Trump announced an executive order banning public schools from “indoctrinating children with transgender ideology.” This vague and inflammatory language framed discussions about gender identity as dangerous, reinforcing the false notion that children are being coerced into identifying as transgender.
What he failed to mention is that gender identity discussions in schools are designed to provide support for LGBTQ+ youth, not to force any ideology upon them. Studies have shown that affirming transgender students in educational settings significantly reduces suicide rates and improves mental health outcomes. Trump’s order aligns with Project 2025’s goal of stripping LGBTQ+ issues from public education.
Participation in Women’s Sports
Trump revisited the issue of transgender women in sports, misrepresenting their participation as an existential threat to women’s athletics. He specifically referenced the case of Payton McNabb, a high school volleyball player injured during a match, using the incident to justify banning transgender women from competing in women’s sports. Additionally, he cited a transgender cyclist’s performance in a long-distance race as supposed evidence of unfair advantages.
The reality is that transgender athletes make up an incredibly small percentage of all competitors, and major sports organizations already have policies in place to ensure fairness. Trump’s claims ignore the fact that athletic performance is influenced by numerous factors beyond gender, and there is no evidence of widespread dominance by transgender women in sports.
The Absurd “Transgender Mice” Claim
Trump ridiculed the previous administration for supposedly spending millions on “making mice transgender.” This reference mischaracterized legitimate scientific research by the National Institutes of Health, which studied hormonal therapy’s effects on biological processes. This research is crucial for understanding gender-affirming care and its impact on human health.
By distorting the intent of this research, Trump mocked medical advancements that benefit both transgender individuals and the broader medical community. His remarks served no purpose beyond fueling anti-trans sentiment.
RELATED: Trump’s ‘Transgender Mice’ Gaffe Sparks Internet Mockery
Gender Policies and the Erasure of Non-Binary People
Trump reiterated his administration’s stance that the government only recognizes two genders, dismissing non-binary and transgender identities altogether. This policy has severe implications, as it could lead to the rollback of legal gender marker changes on passports, driver’s licenses, and federal documents, making daily life far more difficult for transgender individuals.
His rhetoric also ignored the scientific reality that sex and gender exist on a spectrum. The medical community—including organizations like the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association—recognizes that gender is not strictly binary.
The Attack on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Initiatives
Trump declared that his administration had abolished DEI programs within the federal government, referring to them as “illegal and immoral discrimination programs.” His rhetoric framed DEI as a wasteful use of public funds, ignoring the fact that these initiatives exist to address systemic inequalities and provide opportunities for marginalized groups.
His administration’s dismantling of DEI programs will have real-world consequences, particularly for LGBTQ+ individuals, people of color, and women in the workplace, making it harder for them to advance in professional settings.
Military Ideologues and the “Common Sense Revolution”
Trump criticized what he called the presence of “ideologues” in the military, claiming that his administration had removed them to strengthen the armed forces. He emphasized that under Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, military personnel would be “fighters and warriors,” not “activists and ideologues.”
This rhetoric falsely portrays efforts to create an inclusive military as a weakness. The reality is that diversity in the armed forces has strengthened unit cohesion and improved operational effectiveness. Removing protections for LGBTQ+ service members and rolling back diversity initiatives undermines the progress made in ensuring that all service members are treated with dignity and respect.
Banning Gender-Affirming Care for Minors
In his speech, Trump announced an executive order cutting off federal funding to institutions that provide gender-affirming surgeries for minors and called on Congress to pass legislation banning such procedures outright. He claimed that children cannot be “trapped in the wrong body” and framed gender-affirming care as dangerous and unnecessary.
However, the reality is that gender-affirming surgeries on minors are exceptionally rare. Most gender-affirming care for youth consists of puberty blockers and counseling, not irreversible procedures. Medical professionals widely agree that these treatments can be life-saving for transgender youth struggling with gender dysphoria.
Weaponizing Parents’ Rights: The Case of January Littlejohn
Trump highlighted the story of January Littlejohn, a Florida mother who claimed her child’s school facilitated a social gender transition without parental consent. He used this anecdote to advocate for policies requiring parental involvement in all gender-related decisions affecting minors.
This aligns with a broader conservative push to grant parents more control over what their children can learn and access, often at the expense of LGBTQ+ students’ rights. While parental involvement is important, blanket policies restricting transgender youth’s ability to seek support can lead to greater isolation and increased mental health risks.
“Woke No Longer” and the Push for Traditional Values
Trump declared that the U.S. is “woke no longer,” portraying his administration’s actions as part of a broader “common sense revolution.” This phrase encapsulates his broader agenda—erasing progressive policies in favor of regressive, exclusionary measures that prioritize a narrow definition of American identity.
By framing transgender rights and social inclusivity as symptoms of a failed, “woke” culture, Trump set the stage for continued attacks on LGBTQ+ individuals, racial minorities, and women’s rights under the guise of restoring traditional values.
The Real-World Consequences
The impact of Trump’s rhetoric goes beyond words. His policies and statements embolden discrimination, fuel hostility, and put transgender people in real danger.
Increased Marginalization and Fear
Transgender individuals make up a small percentage of the population, yet Trump has turned them into a central focus of his political agenda. By scapegoating this already vulnerable group, he is increasing the stigma, hostility, and fear they face in everyday life.
For many trans people watching the speech, the message was clear: the highest office in the country sees them as a problem to be eradicated, not as citizens deserving of rights and dignity.
Policy Consequences: Executive Orders and Legislative Attacks
Trump’s speech wasn’t just rhetoric; it was a roadmap for policy changes that will have tangible, harmful effects on transgender people. Already, executive orders have been signed banning discussions of gender identity in schools and dismantling DEI initiatives at the federal level.
State lawmakers in Republican-led states are taking this as a green light to introduce even more restrictive anti-trans legislation, including bans on gender-affirming care, limitations on name and gender marker changes, and increased surveillance of LGBTQ+ youth.
Increased Violence and Harassment
When the President of the United States openly demonizes a marginalized group, it emboldens hate. We’ve already seen an uptick in violence against transgender people in recent years, particularly Black and Brown trans women. By dedicating a significant portion of his speech to anti-trans rhetoric, Trump is signaling to his supporters that discrimination and hostility are not only acceptable but encouraged.
The Fight Ahead: Resistance and Advocacy
Despite the grim reality of Trump’s policies, transgender people and their allies are not backing down. Advocacy groups, legal organizations, and grassroots movements are mobilizing to fight back against these attacks.
Organizations like the ACLU, Lambda Legal, and the National Center for Transgender Equality are already preparing lawsuits to challenge the administration’s executive orders. Protests and demonstrations are being organized to push back against anti-trans legislation, and everyday people are speaking out to defend their trans loved ones.
In the face of political oppression, resistance becomes not just necessary but essential.
The Bottom Line
Trump’s 2025 State of the Union address made one thing abundantly clear: this presidency will be defined by attacks on marginalized communities. Rather than addressing pressing national issues, Trump has chosen to focus on demonizing transgender people, using them as a political pawn to energize his base.
But we will not be erased.
The transgender community has faced oppression before, and we will continue to fight for our rights, our dignity, and our very existence. For those watching in fear, know that you are not alone. Allies, activists, and organizations are here to support and protect you.
Now more than ever, it’s time to stand together, push back against these dangerous policies, and make it clear: transgender people are not a political talking point—we are human beings deserving of respect, safety, and equality.
