MAGA enthusiasts erupted in celebration Tuesday after the University of Pennsylvania agreed to limit the participation of transgender athletes under a new deal with the Trump administration.
The university announced it would bow to pressure from the White House and “adopt biology-based definitions for the words ‘male’ and ‘female’” – a major reversal tied to a civil rights investigation into swimmer Lia Thomas’ participation on Penn’s women’s swim team, according to media reports.
The Trump administration had accused the school of violating Title IX by allowing Thomas to compete and had frozen $175 million in federal research funds during the inquiry, the New York Times reported.
The resolution involving President Donald Trump’s latest tussle with an Ivy League university sent pro-Trump social media into a mix of praise for the announcement – and ridicule for the university.
“Hallelujah … The women of UPenn State will stripe Lia Thomas of his medal and records and give them back to the actual women who deserved them,” the pro-MAGA account @CreasonJana posted on X. “My question now is … Will Lia now go back to being the man he was born as?”
“Penn State is taking away ‘Lea Thomas’ titles and giving them to the runners up and will no longer allow men to compete in women’s sports on their sports teams!” X user Adam Knox told his followers. “This is a massive win all thanks to Riley Gaines and President Trump!”
Civil liberties attorney and conservative activist Laura Powell added: “UPenn will formally apologize for allowing Lia Thomas to compete as a woman. The tide is turning!”
“Thanks President Trump! PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT! We won!” MAGA follower AJ Huber told his followers on X.
“Pride month ended and Lia Thomas was immediately stripped of his titles,” TikTok creator Link Lauren, a former campaign aide to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., told his own X followers.