The order mandates that official government documents, including passports and visas, must only recognize male and female as the two sexes.

On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring that only two biological sexes exist: male and female. The order was signed from the White House, just hours after his inauguration.

In the signed order, President Trump stated, "My administration will defend women’s rights and protect freedom of conscience by using clear and accurate language and policies that recognize women are biologically female, and men are biologically male." He further emphasized, "It is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes – male and female. These sexes are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality."

The order mandates that official government documents, including passports and visas, reflect only male and female as the recognized sexes.

"The erasure of sex in language and policy has a corrosive impact not just on women but on the validity of the entire American system," the order added, targeting what it referred to as "gender ideology extremism."

Executive orders like this one allow U.S. presidents to implement political priorities without needing approval from Congress. However, these orders are more easily challenged in court than laws passed by Congress.

During his election campaign, Mr. Trump had signaled his intent to take political action against the rights of transgender individuals in the U.S. He referred to issues surrounding transgender rights as “transgender lunacy” and “child sexual mutilation,” while frequently making disparaging remarks about those affected. The participation of transgender women in sports became a significant topic during the campaign, especially among Republican circles.

Transgender individuals are those who feel their gender identity does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth.

Trump's statements reflect a broader societal debate in the U.S., with growing calls from conservative groups to limit the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT+) individuals. Tech billionaire and close confidant of Trump, Elon Musk, has also voiced concerns about medical treatments for transgender youth. His own child, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who has been living openly as a trans woman since 2020, has publicly criticized Musk for his stance.