Donald Trump and The Undertaker weigh in on Olympics female boxing controversy, want to protect female sports from transgenders
US presidential candidate and former president Donald Trump recently spoke about the Paris Olympic female boxing controversy in his recent appearance in The Undertaker's podcast, Six Feet Under.
The former US president insisted on calling Olympic female boxing gold medalist Imane Khelif a "man" and vowed to protect female sports from transgenders. The Undertaker, whose real name is Mark Calaway, brought his daughter with him to the podcast to show how female athletes are affected by this hotly debated issue.
On the topic of transgenders competing in female sports, Trump said:
"I think it's very demeaning to women. She [Calaway's daughter] wants to play sports and she wants to play against women. You don't necessarily want to play against men. It's okay but you don't want to do it."
Trump went on to recount Khelif's controversial TKO win over Angela Carini, whom he referred to as a "beautiful Italian girl". Carini protested mid-fight and proceeded to walk out, an action she later apologized for.
On the Khelif-Carini fight, Trump said:
"I never saw something quite like that. She [Carini] doesn't go down, she walked back to her corner and said, 'I just got hit harder than I've ever been hit before'. Her corner pushes her back out, 'You can do it, you can do it'. He [Khelif] goes with another left jab and she walks off, 'There's no way I can win'."
Trump referred to Khelif as someone "who transitioned into women", despite claims from the Algerian boxer's camp that she was born a woman, with a birth certificate as proof.
Check out Donald Trump's comments on Imane Khelif below (56:09):
Despite Donald Trump and other detractors, Imane Khelif decides to enter the world of professional boxing
Amidst the controversy surrounding her Olympic gold medal win and the detractors that came with it, Imane Khelif decided to turn pro. After her win over Angela Carini in the second round of the women's 66kg category, debates sparked regarding her gender.
The International Boxing Association claimed that they disqualified the Algerian boxer from the World Championships 2023 after alleged failed gender eligibility tests. No concrete evidence has been given to support this claim, however.
Khelif went on to win her category's gold medal and brought home Algeria's first female boxing gold medal. Amidst her Paris 2024 campaign, an avalanche of online hate from prominent individuals such as Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and J.K. Rowling came down on her, prompting the Algerian boxer to file a lawsuit.
Speaking in a press conference last Sunday, Khelif revealed new developments in her life and career, saying:
"There is a documentary being prepared about my success story and it will be shown on international platforms. I will soon enter the world of professional boxing, I have many offers. Currently, I have not made up my mind about where I will enter professional boxing. But very soon I will take this step, we as Algerians would like to see our level in the field of professionalism."
No official news has been released on the upcoming documentary on Khelif's story or any boxing promotion that has signed her yet.