Walz Faces Backlash After Calling SCOTUS Trans Athlete Ruling ‘Cruel’

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz ignited a firestorm on social media after denouncing the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling on transgender athletes in girls’ sports as “cruel,” prompting a wave of criticism from conservatives and Republican lawmakers who argued the decision protects fairness and safety for female athletes.

In a 6-3 decision issued on June 30 in West Virginia v. B.P.J., the Supreme Court ruled that states may exclude transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports teams based on biological sex at birth. Writing for the majority, Justice Brett Kavanaugh held that “[c]onsistent with Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause, we hold that the States may maintain women’s and girls’ sports for biological females,” as SCOTUSblog reported.

Walz’s Remarks and Immediate Fallout

Walz took to X (formerly Twitter) shortly after the ruling, writing: “As the Supreme Court says states can be cruel to trans kids, my message is clear: Here in Minnesota, we stand with and value our trans neighbors and youth,” according to Fox News.

The post was met with immediate backlash. Minnesota Republican State Sen. Julia Coleman fired back on X: “What’s cruel is making a teenage girl, already uncomfortable in her own skin, change in a locker room next to a naked boy. What’s cruel is letting our girls get the s--- kicked out of them by biological males on the field and lose out on scholarships.”

The Republican National Committee’s research account also weighed in, stating: “What’s actually ‘cruel’ is advocating for the gender mutilation of children and letting men in their locker rooms you sicko.”

Minnesota’s Political Divide

The ruling has sharply divided Minnesota’s political landscape. Republican gubernatorial candidates Kendall Qualls and House Speaker Lisa Demuth both praised the decision. “Today, the Supreme Court ruled with common sense,” Qualls said. “When I’m governor, boys will play in boys’ sports and girls will play in girls’ sports.” Demuth echoed the sentiment, declaring that “boys don’t belong in girls’ sports and men don’t belong in women’s locker rooms,” as CBS Minnesota reported.

On the other side, Minnesota DFL Party Chair Richard Carlbom decried the use of “our kids as political pawns,” while Rep. Leigh Finke, DFL-St. Paul, said her heart was “breaking for the kids who just want to feel safe while they play softball with their friends.”

Walz Defends Minnesota’s Policy

Later on Tuesday, Walz held a press conference where he clarified that Minnesota’s policies would remain unchanged. “The Supreme Court has allowed states to be as cruel as they want to be to transgender people,” Walz told reporters. “They’ve also allowed states like Minnesota to be as kind and welcoming as they can, so I kind of view this as a mixed bag.”

Walz affirmed that Minnesota will “continue to treat our transgender athletes and youth with dignity and humanity and respect,” as the Twin Cities Pioneer Press reported. The state’s current policy, governed by the Minnesota State High School League and the Minnesota Human Rights Act, allows transgender athletes to compete on teams consistent with their gender identity.

Legal and Political Implications

The Supreme Court’s ruling upholds laws in 27 states that restrict transgender athletes’ participation in women’s sports. All nine justices agreed that the laws do not violate Title IX, but the court split 6-3 on the constitutional question. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, in a partial dissent joined by Justices Kagan and Jackson, argued that the majority “inflicts a hardship on those it disfavors without giving them the fair and full opportunity the Constitution requires.”

For Minnesota, the ruling carries significant political weight. Walz is not seeking re-election amid falling approval ratings and an ongoing fraud scandal, and Republicans see an opportunity to win the governor’s office in November. Should Republicans secure a trifecta, passing a state-level ban on transgender athletes in girls’ sports is expected to be among their first priorities.

Meanwhile, an ongoing federal lawsuit brought by the Trump administration against Minnesota’s transgender athlete policy remains unresolved, and it is not yet clear how Tuesday’s ruling will affect that litigation.

What’s Next

With the Supreme Court having settled the constitutional question, the debate now shifts to state legislatures. Minnesota’s November election will likely determine whether the state joins the growing majority of states with restrictions on transgender athletes in girls’ sports, or whether it continues to chart its own course on the issue.