Former United States President; Donald Trump said he would ban transgender women from participating in women’s sports nationwide if he is re-elected.

“We will ban men from participating in women’s sports,” Trump said During a rally in Conroe, Texas, on Saturday. “so ridiculous.”

He then criticized Trans University swimmer Lia Thomas of Pennsylvania, who sparked international debate last month after breaking multiple records at a meet in O.hIO Trump referred to Thomas with the wrong pronoun, and then incorrectly stated that Thomas broke the 11-year-old swimming record by 38 seconds.

In fact, Thomas won the 1,650-yard freestyle in 38 seconds at the Zippy Invitational in Ohio, but he didn’t set a record in that event. He broke school and Ivy League records by a small margin of a few seconds in the 200-yard freestyle and 500-yard freestyle. Outsports reported The distance by which Thomas won the race is the longest in the NCAA, but women take more than 15 minutes to complete the race.

Trump also claimed that a trans woman, whom he did not name, broke a 20-year record in weightlifting. It is not clear whether this claim is true.

Trump’s language reflects conservative officials in several states over the years. Last year, more than 30 states Bills were considered that would ban transgender student-athletes from playing on sports teams aligned with their gender identity. ten states Such measures have been taken. so far this year, 17 states Considering a similar bill.

Trump has previously condemned trans-inclusive sports teams. in a speech to Conservative Political Action Conference In Orlando, Florida, last year, Trump called trans female athletes “biological men,” using a term most trans people find offensive.

“Young girls and women are outraged that they are now being forced to compete against people who are biological men,” Trump said. “It’s not good for the women. It’s not good for the women’s sport, who worked so long and worked so hard to get to where they are.

She later said, “If this doesn’t change, the women’s sport as we know it will die.”

Advocates say conservatives are using trans athletes as a wage issue, or as a form of “red meat,” to inspire voters to vote. However, she says trans women are not actually a threat to the women’s sport. For example, last year, only a few lawmakers in two dozen states considered banning trans athletes, who were Contacted by Associated Press Sports can provide examples of trans inclusion causing problems on teams.

But Thomas’ critics say her success proves that trans women should not be allowed to compete on women’s sports teams, or at least the rules governing their participation, to reduce any competitive advantage. There is a need for hardening that can be caused by the effects of testosterone. Endogenous youth.

Although some advocates believe that the intention behind post-trans bills is to oust voters, it is unclear whether the bills will actually have an effect. according to a PBS Newshour/NPR/Marist Poll Released last year, two-thirds of Americans are against laws that would limit transgender rights.

But when support for specific inclusion policies breaks down, trans inclusion is less popular on sports teams. 62 percent of Americans said that trans athletes should only be allowed to play on sports teams that corresponded to their gender at birth, while 34 percent said they should be able to play on teams that matched their gender identity needed. Gallup poll Released last year.

Shortly after the poll was published, Mara Kesling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, speculated that Americans were reacting to a “barrage” of anti-trans bills being considered in state legislatures and predicted that as much as The more people learn about trans people or meet someone who is trans, the more public opinion will change.

Gallup data suggested this may be true: It found that people who knew someone who knew trans athletes should be able to play on a team matching their gender identity, compared to 40 percent who did not. Those who don’t know someone who is transgender, with 31 percent in favor.

“If you look at young people in terms of who knows a trans person, it’s really clear here that we’re winning,” Kessling said at the time, alluding to the fact that under 30 Half of the underage people know someone who is trans, according to Gallup. By comparison, only 19 percent of the oldest age group, those 65 and older, know a trans person.