President Donald Trump’s 2022 remarks about recruiting LeBron James to play on a women’s basketball team have resurfaced on social media as the WNBA faces renewed debate over transgender athletes in women’s sports.
Trump made the comments during a July 2022 speech at the America First Policy Institute, where he argued that allowing biological males to compete in women’s athletics would fundamentally alter the nature of competition.
Donald Trump says if he coached in the WNBA, he’d ask LeBron if he has “any desire to be a woman” 😭 pic.twitter.com/M74QJlw28L
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) August 5, 2026
“I’ll tell you what – I’d be the greatest women’s basketball coach in history. Because, I don’t like LeBron James. I like Michael Jordan much better. But I’d go up to LeBron James, it doesn’t matter, I’d say, ‘LeBron, did you ever have any desire to be a woman? Because 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,’” Trump said at the time. “No, we have to change that. We have to make it OK to talk about it.”
The clip began circulating again Tuesday night, ahead of the Indiana Fever’s home game Wednesday against the New York Liberty. Its return coincides with controversy surrounding Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, who has publicly argued that women and girls should not be required to compete against biological males.
Cunningham’s position has drawn criticism from WNBA coaches, columnists and other media figures. Some have called for greater inclusion in sports, while others have accused her of expressing anti-Black or anti-transgender views, writes Fox News.
Women’s sports advocates and other Cunningham supporters have also organized rallies outside WNBA arenas in recent days.
One gathering was held in Minneapolis before the Fever’s 108-100 loss to the Minnesota Lynx. Pro-transgender activists reportedly disrupted the demonstration, including one person who displayed a sign carrying a derogatory message aimed at Cunningham’s supporters.
Cunningham has declined to retreat from her position.
“I said what I said. I think it’s kind of common sense,” she said on July 22. “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.”
Recently, commentator Clay Travis has ruffled feathers by offering the WNBA champions $10 million to play against a high school boys team of his choosing.
Minneapolis news anchor tees off on me for putting $10 million on the line in high school boys vs WNBA champs wager. Enjoy. pic.twitter.com/nhJPwKJVwb
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) August 4, 2026
Wednesday’s game against the Liberty will be the Fever’s second home contest since an ESPN feature drew broader attention to Cunningham’s views, keeping the debate over fairness, inclusion and eligibility standards in women’s athletics in the national spotlight.
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