White House reaffirms US policy recognising only two genders

US President Donald Trump. Photo: AFP

The White House has reiterated the United States government’s position that there are only two genders, male and female, under President Donald Trump’s administration.

The White House restated the position in a post shared on its official X account on Saturday, declaring, “It is the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders: male & female.”

The statement reinforces Trump’s longstanding position on gender identity and his administration’s policy of recognising biological sex as either male or female in federal government operations.

Trump formalised the position on January 20, 2025, through an executive order titled Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.

Under Section Two of the order, the President declared that “it is the policy of the United States to recognise two sexes, male and female.”

The order further defined sex as an individual’s “immutable biological classification as either male or female,” stating that sex was not synonymous with gender identity.

It also directed federal agencies to adopt the definitions in their interpretation and application of federal laws and government policies.

Among other measures, the directive required government agencies to remove official statements, policies, regulations and communications considered inconsistent with the administration’s position.

It also directed agencies to ensure that official forms requiring an individual’s sex listed only male or female.

The executive order formed part of Trump’s broader policy to reverse federal government measures introduced under his predecessor, Joe Biden, which recognised gender identity in several areas of government policy.

The White House’s latest statement, according to the post, reiterates the “administration’s position on an issue that has remained a major subject of political and social debate in the United States.”

In January 2025, when Trump was inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States, held inside the Capitol Rotunda due to adverse weather conditions.

In his inaugural address, Trump outlined a bold agenda for his administration, touching on issues of gender, race, border control, economic reforms, and energy policies.

Trump asserted that his administration would recognise only two genders—male and female—effectively dismissing identities such as transgender, non-binary, and genderqueer.