Upon assuming office, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders systematically targeting the transgender community. These policies must be understood within the framework of anti-gender ideology and right-wing populism. The anti-gender ideology serves a dual purpose – first, it functions as a canopy under which conservatives are mobilized in the name of preserving cultural and traditional norms and second, by positioning gender-diverse individuals as a cultural threat, it diverts attention from economic and structural inequalities in society. This article examines how Trump’s speeches, political advertisements and policy decisions align with broader right-wing populist trends and their implications for gender politics and trans rights. I argue that these executive orders are not merely policy rollbacks but a strategic continuation of Trump’s ‘anti-gender’ campaign rhetoric in the 2024 U.S. Presidential elections, aimed at consolidating his conservative base. I first analyse how he employed anti-trans rhetoric during the campaign, then outline the key executive orders passed by his administration curbing transgender rights. Finally, I discuss the broader implications of these exclusionary policies for the future of gender and sexuality rights.
Prachand Man Pradhan (2025) studied this question.