In a pivotal moment of his second inaugural address on January 20, 2025, President Donald J. Trump unveiled a contentious policy declaring that the United States officially recognizes only two genders—male and female.
During his second inaugural address, President Trump told a gathering of political leaders and supporters, “As of today, it shall be the official policy of the United States that there are only two genders: male and female.” This declaration aligns with his administration’s commitment to upholding traditional values and challenging what he calls “woke ideologies.” The new policy is expected to affect federal legislation, public institutions, and areas such as education, healthcare, and workplace regulations.
Trump framed the decision as a move to restore “common sense” and reduce the impact of divisive cultural debates on American society.
The announcement has ignited widespread debate, with supporters hailing the policy as a courageous return to traditional values. They argue that it reaffirms clear, time-honored understandings of gender. However, the move has been met with strong opposition from critics, particularly LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and civil rights organizations, who denounce it as discriminatory and a harmful setback for inclusion and diversity in the United States.
This policy is part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration to push back against progressive social policies that have gained traction in recent years. The administration views this shift as essential to reasserting what it considers the nation’s foundational principles.
In addition to the gender recognition policy, Trump’s speech emphasized a commitment to building a “color-blind” society, one that judges individuals based on merit rather than race or identity.
He also called for reforms aimed at “protecting the integrity of American values,” positioning this as part of a larger effort to combat what he perceives as the erosion of traditional American norms by modern cultural movements. These remarks underscore the administration’s desire to reshape societal and governmental frameworks in line with its vision of national identity and values.
