
Donald Trump Handed New Victory in Battle Against Transgender Athletes
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee updated its guidelines this week to reflect that it will comply with President Donald Trump's executive order targeting transgender athletes.
"The USOPC will continue to collaborate with various stakeholders with oversight responsibilities, e.g., IOC, IPC, NGBs, to ensure that women have a fair and safe competition environment consistent with Executive Order 14201 and the Ted Stevens Olympic & Amateur Sports Act," the guidance says.
Executive Order 14201, titled "Keeping Men Out Of Women's Sports," was signed on February 5 and says women's sports are for "biological" women, adding that transgender women's participation in women's sports is "demeaning, unfair, and dangerous."
The USOPC confirmed to The New York Times on Tuesday that its policy had been updated, telling the paper it held a "series of respectful and constructive conversations with federal officials" on the issue and that "as a federally chartered organization, we have an obligation to comply with federal expectations."
This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Newsweek
21 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Trump Threatens 'Stupid' Iran
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. President Donald Trump ridiculed Iran's continued pursuit of uranium enrichment following U.S. airstrikes on its key nuclear sites last month, expressing disbelief on Sunday at Tehran's persistence despite what he described as a decisive military blow to its ambitions. "They got the hell knocked out of them and they…I don't think they know it," Trump told reporters at his golf course in the Scottish village of Turnberry. He said Iran's insistence on enrichment was "stupid" and vowed to stop the program outright. Newsweek has reached out to the State Department and Iran's Foreign Ministry for comment. Why It Matters Trump's comments marked one of the sharpest threats from Washington since last month's 12-day war, when Israeli and U.S. strikes targeted Iran's nuclear facilities. Despite the losses, Tehran remains defiant on uranium enrichment—a key issue behind decades of U.S.-Iran tensions. The U.S. leader's remarks highlight a growing divide: Iran claims its program is peaceful and scientific, while the U.S. sees enrichment as a path to nuclear weapons—something Trump insists he would never allow. President Donald Trump speaks as he meets European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Trump Turnberry golf course in Turnberry, Scotland Sunday, July 27, 2025. President Donald Trump speaks as he meets European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Trump Turnberry golf course in Turnberry, Scotland Sunday, July 27, 2025. Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo What to Know Following a meeting with EU chief Ursula Von der Leyen, Trump expressed surprise at Iran's ongoing pursuit of uranium enrichment. "They still talk about enrichment," he said. "Who would do that? You just come out of something that's so bad, and they talk about, we want to continue enrichment." He added: "How stupid can you be to say that?" Trump also condemned Iran's rhetoric, saying: "Iran has been very nasty with their words, with their mouth. They got the hell knocked out of them and they…I don't think they know it. I actually don't think they know." Nuclear Damage On June 22, U.S. forces struck Iran's nuclear facilities at Fordow, Esfahan and Natanz, following a 12-day Israeli offensive. In retaliation, Iran launched missile attacks on Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar—the largest U.S. military installation in the Middle East—claiming it was a direct response to American aggression. Although Iran reported successful strikes, U.S. and Qatari officials stated that all missiles were intercepted and no casualties or major damage occurred. Portraits of children and teenagers who were killed in the June 13 Israeli airstrike at a residential compound in Tehran, Iran, are displayed with some of their belongings on Saturday, July 19, 2025. Portraits of children and teenagers who were killed in the June 13 Israeli airstrike at a residential compound in Tehran, Iran, are displayed with some of their belongings on Saturday, July 19, 2025. AP Photo National Pride Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi recently reaffirmed that Iran would not abandon its uranium enrichment program. He called the effort both a scientific success and a patriotic symbol. "Our enrichment is so dear to us," Araghchi said. Meanwhile, Iran has said that it would proceed with nuclear negotiations alongside European powers following "serious, frank and detailed" discussions in Istanbul last week. What People Are Saying U.S. President Donald Trump: "The whole thing's a con job…Iran was beaten up very badly, for good reason. We cannot have them have a nuclear weapon." Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi: "Obviously we cannot give up our enrichment, because it is an achievement of our own scientists and now more than that, it is a question of national pride." What Happens Next Trump's latest comments indicate the U.S. will continue pressuring Iran diplomatically and militarily to abandon uranium enrichment. While talks with European powers are ongoing following recent meetings in Turkey, no deal has been reached yet, and tensions between Washington and Tehran remain high with the risk of further escalation.


Newsweek
23 minutes ago
- Newsweek
ICE Detains Obama-Award Winner Living in US for 20 Years
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Pennsylvania man who came to the United States as a child and was once recognized by former President Barack Obama is now being held in federal custody following a routine court appearance. Darwin Contreras, 27, has lived in the United States since he was 7 years old, and was a recipient of the President's Education Awards Program, his wife, Elizabeth DeJesus, told Newsweek. Newsweek has obtained a copy of the award dated January 2012, during Obama's presidency. "This boy was turning into an athletic man with dreams of pursuing soccer as a career. His senior year, he unfortunately had to drop out and get a job. So instead, he picked up track and field," DeJesus told Newsweek. Darwin Contreras, right, 27, has lived in the United States since he was 7 years old and was a recipient of the President's Education Awards Program, his wife, Elizabeth DeJesus, left, told Newsweek. Inset, President... Darwin Contreras, right, 27, has lived in the United States since he was 7 years old and was a recipient of the President's Education Awards Program, his wife, Elizabeth DeJesus, left, told Newsweek. Inset, President Barack Obama's signature on the award. More Supplied "He motivated his teammates to go hard during practice and to never stop. After graduating from high school, he got a job and continued to work hard," she added. Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), told Newsweek that ICE agents detained Contreras during a court hearing for driving under the influence. "His criminal history includes convictions for theft and possession of marijuana. This criminal illegal alien admitted to law enforcement that he is in the country illegally," McLaughlin said. The arrest comes as the White House is attempting to carry out what it calls the largest deportation operation in U.S. history as part of the President Donald Trump's hard-line immigration agenda. Contreras' journey to the U.S. from El Salvador was marked by trauma, his wife said. During both of his border crossings, he witnessed harrowing scenes, including dead bodies and acts of exploitation. On his second attempt, instead of being reunited with his mother, he was met by authorities and a caseworker, and spent time in detention before being placed in a foster home. He eventually reunited with his mother, and he went on to grow up in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he attended school and thrived. In elementary school, he received awards for his academic efforts, and in middle school, he earned a Presidential Fitness Award from then-President Obama. He later turned to sports, excelling in track and field and being named MVP during his senior year after initially having to leave school to support himself. After graduating from high school, Contreras began working full-time, supporting himself and eventually becoming a father. Later, he met DeJesus, now 22, and the couple married in March of this year. Both work at the same restaurant, and Contreras was in the process of applying for his citizenship when he was detained. On June 24, after attending a court proceeding related to the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program, Darwin was taken into custody by ICE agents who were waiting at the courthouse. DeJesus recalls the agents wearing "something you can get from Walmart" and being given no immediate information on where her husband was being taken. Later she learned he had been transported to Pike County Correctional Facility. DeJesus said ICE's actions have disrupted not only their lives, but have left her husband in a deteriorating mental and physical state. "At first, when he got there, he was not adjusting well, he was not OK, his mental health was not good," she said. As they await the hearing date, she continues to advocate for Contreras' release and hopes his long-standing ties to the U.S., their marriage, and his contributions to the community will be taken into account.


Newsweek
23 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Donald Trump Hit With Epstein Question During EU Deal Announcement
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. President Donald Trump hit back at a reporter who asked a question about Jeffrey Epstein during a news conference announcing a trade framework between the United States and the European Union. "Mr. President, was part of the rush to get this deal done to knock the Jeffrey Epstein story [out of the headlines]?" the reporter asked during the news conference in Turnberry, Scotland, on Sunday. "Oh, you gotta be kidding with that," Trump said. "No, had nothing to do with it. Only you would think that. That had nothing to do with it." Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment via an email sent outside regular business hours. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a joint press briefing with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after agreeing on a trade deal between the two economies following their meeting in Turnberry, Scotland, on... U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a joint press briefing with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after agreeing on a trade deal between the two economies following their meeting in Turnberry, Scotland, on July 27. More Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images Why It Matters In recent weeks, Trump has struggled to shift the conversation from the Epstein, a wealthy financier and convicted sex offender who authorities said died by suicide behind bars in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The president has faced pressure from his supporters to release the government's files about Epstein, which they believe will reveal a cover-up in the case to protect Epstein's wealthy and powerful friends. Trump's personal relationship with Epstein has also come under fresh scrutiny. The Wall Street Journal reported that Attorney General Pam Bondi told Trump that his name was in the files during a briefing in May. Trump has never been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein and the inclusion of someone's name in files from the investigation does not imply otherwise. What To Know As he departed the White House for the trip to Scotland on Friday, Trump faced numerous questions about the Epstein case and whether he would pardon Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted sex offender's imprisoned accomplice. "People should really focus on how well the country is doing," Trump said in response to one question. He shut down another, saying, "I don't want to talk about that." He faced another round of questions as he stepped off Air Force One in Scotland. "You're making a big thing over something that's not a big thing," he told one reporter. To another, he said, "I'm focused on making deals, not on conspiracy theories that you are." Previously, the Trump administration had promised to release more documents in the case, including an alleged list of clients involved in Epstein's sex trafficking operation. However, in an unsigned memo issued on July 7, the FBI and the Justice Department said Epstein did not have a list of clients and that no additional records would be released to the public. Since then, the Trump administration has received a bipartisan backlash and has scrambled to appear transparent, including by seeking the unsealing of grand jury transcripts in the case—which a judge has rejected. What People Are Saying President Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Thursday: "The Radical Left Democrats are doing everything in their power to distract and obfuscate from our GREAT six months of service to America, results of which many are saying is the BEST six months in Presidential history. They have gone absolutely CRAZY, and are playing another Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax but, this time, under the guise of what we will call the Jeffrey Epstein SCAM." The Democrats' X account wrote on Saturday, alongside a video detailing Trump's relationship with Epstein: "No matter how much he tries to distract from it, Trump's connection to Jeffrey Epstein spans decades." Democratic Representative Jason Crow of Colorado said on Fox News Sunday, discussing the Trump administration's allegations that the Obama administration manufactured intelligence about Russian interference in the 2016 election: "This is being reinvigorated and concocted because Donald Trump doesn't want to talk about the Epstein files. He doesn't want those files released. In fact, I'm sitting here right now instead of in Washington because House Republicans released the Congress. We went on recess early to avoid a vote on releasing the Epstein files." What Happens Next Trump is likely to continue receiving questions about the Epstein case. The president is set to meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday before traveling to Aberdeen, Scotland. This article contains reporting from the Associated Press.