A 2022 comment by Donald Trump involving NBA superstar LeBron James has resurfaced amid a growing debate over transgender participation in women’s sports.

Speaking at the America First Policy Institute in July 2022, Trump jokingly imagined himself coaching a WNBA team and said he would approach James about joining his squad.

Trump said he preferred Michael Jordan to James but claimed he would still want the four-time NBA champion on his hypothetical women's team.

“I'd be the greatest women's basketball coach in history. Because, I don't like LeBron James. I like Michael Jordan much better. But I'd go up to LeBron James, it doesn't matter, I'd say, 'LeBron, did you ever have any desire to be a woman? Because what I'd love you to do is star on my team that I'm building up,” Trump said.

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Trump then revealed how having LeBron in his locker would make his team win all the accolades.

“I'll have the greatest team in history. They'll never lose. Nobody will come within 70 points of this team.' No, we have to change that. We have to make it OK to talk about it,” he added.

The remarks have resurfaced as the WNBA finds itself at the centre of a fresh discussion about transgender athletes and participation in women's sports.

Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve recently drew attention after wearing a shirt reading "Trans kids belong," amid a wider disagreement over the issue.

Reeve has argued that transgender children should have access to sport while acknowledging that questions become more complicated beyond puberty and in elite competition.

"We have some issues. Number one, we need to protect trans kids. Every kid to me, it's a human rights issue. Every kid has a right to sports regardless of being gender diverse, transgender," Reeve said.

The debate has also drawn criticism from Fox News host Jesse Watters, who said he no longer wanted to cover the WNBA because of the controversy surrounding the league.


Watch the video below:

Donald Trump says if he coached in the WNBA, he’d ask LeBron if he has “any desire to be a woman” 😭 pic.twitter.com/M74QJlw28L

— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) August 5, 2026