Caitlyn Jenner issues surprising statement after Trump signs executive order affecting trans athletes

Caitlyn Jenner has issued a statement on another of Donald Trump's controversial executive order directly affecting transgender athletes in women's sports.

Trump, 78, signed his new piece of legislation whilst speaking against the notion of transgender athletes competing on women's sport teams earlier this week, also announcing plans to deny federal funds for schools that allow it.

On Wednesday (5 February), he declared from the White House: "We will defend the proud tradition of female athletes. From now on, women’s sports will be only for women. The war on women’s sports is over."

The Republican also claimed his policy would form part of a 'sweeping effort to reclaim our culture and our laws', and would direct the Education Department to inform schools that allowing trans athletes to compete will put them in violation of the federal law banning sex discrimination.

Currently, a piece of legislation known as Title IX prohibits schools that discriminate based on sex from receiving federal funding.

Now, as per his new order, Trump has threatened that if any school receiving taxpayer dollars lets 'men take over women's sports teams or invade your locker rooms', they'll be investigated, adding: "There will be no federal funding. So this will effectively end the attack on female athletes."

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the former Olympian, who came out as a transgender woman in 2015, shared a statement that has surprised millions of users, explicitly agreeing with Trump's latest decision.

Trump has already signed several executive orders that affect that LGBTQ+ community (JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)

"Another victory in the fight for protecting women’s sports!" Jenner wrote. "President Trump signs an Executive Order keeping biological men out of women’s sports!"

She continued: "As an Olympian, I will continue to fight this issue, lobbying sport governing body’s all over the world to follow our lead!"

The reality star - who previously told USA Today that she'd received 'more flak for being a conservative Republican than I have for being trans' - is arguably one of the most famous LGBTQ+ athletes, having won an Olympic gold medal in the decathlon at the height of her career.

Naturally, therefore, her latest post has triggered mass confusion amongst her online followers.

Jenner pledged her support to Trump (X/@caitlynjenner)

"You are so confusing," one hit out in the comments below, while another implored her: "The world needs you to fight this issue because what is happening is damaging"

"Legitimate question - as a trans woman, are you cool with them just slowly erasing trans people, their rights, and everything they’ve worked towards?" a third questioned.

"Not even regarding this OE [order] in particular, but all the other ones. I honestly would love to know your thoughts."

Following Trump's election victory against Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, Jenner previously took to Instagram to share a message to her 15.4 million followers, declaring: "Hope is back in America."

In the caption of a photo of herself alongside Trump, his granddaughter Kai Madison, and Elon Musk, Jenner continued: "These two men will single-handedly save western civilisation and that starts with a strong United States of America."

The Kardashians star added: "I am here and at your service and forever indebted to your sacrifice for this country.

"Let’s Make America Great Again!"

Jenner previously supported Trump's election victory (Instagram/@caitlynjenner)

According to Reuters, enforcing his ban 'may be difficult' for Trump 'to enforce', being that his current options 'range from looking at birth certificates, which can be altered, to inspecting the bodies of children, an alternative that most would find unpalatable at best'.

Transgender athlete Chris Mosier, who also spoke to the publication, has since responded: "Anti-trans school sports bans are difficult to enforce because they rely on sex testing and body policing for implementation and enforcement.

"An increased scrutiny on athletes' bodies creates serious harm to all women and girls who are perceived as 'more masculine' due to being queer, intersex, or otherwise out of alignment with narrow, white-centric norms of femininity."