On June 30, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in favor of West Virginia and Idaho, upholding laws that restrict participation in girls' sports to biological females. The decision affirms states' authority to determine eligibility based on biological sex under Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause.

The cases involved West Virginia's Save Women's Sports Act and Idaho's Fairness in Women's Sports Act, both previously blocked following legal challenges by transgender athletes. Constitutional law attorney Jonathan Turley and Fox News chief legal correspondent Shannon Bream noted that the ruling reflects the view that transgender status is not a protected class like race or religion, leaving such policy decisions to individual states.

First Lady Melania Trump responded to the ruling by highlighting a passage from her bestselling memoir, "Melania," published months before the court's decision. In a post on X, she wrote, "As many of you may know, I fully support the LGBTQIA+ community. But we must also ensure that our female athletes are protected and respected," directing readers to page 156 of her book.

Her comments came shortly after the Supreme Court set a new nationwide precedent allowing states to maintain girls' sports teams for biological females. She emphasized the importance of balancing respect for everyone with fairness in girls' sports, stating, "Respect everyone and keep girls' sports fair. Both ideals are essential."

The ruling and the First Lady's remarks mark a significant moment in the ongoing debate over transgender athletes' participation in sports.

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