Tim Walz blasts Supreme Court ruling on transgender athletes as cruel
Supreme Court upholds state bans on biological boys in girls’ sports
Fox News reports on the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Idaho and West Virginia laws, effectively banning biological males from participating in girls’ sports. Constitutional law attorney Jonathan Turley and chief legal reporter Shannon Bream explain that the decision is consistent with the view that transgender status is not a protected class like race or religion, leaving it up to individual states to decide.
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Minnesota’s Democratic Gov. Tim Walz faced backlash from conservatives on social media Tuesday after denouncing the Supreme Court’s ruling on transgender athletes in women’s sports, calling it “cruel.”
“As the Supreme Court says states can be cruel to transgender children, my message is clear: We stand with and value our transgender neighbors and youth in Minnesota,” Walz said. Published on X The Supreme Court was ruling in favor of West Virginia and Idaho against transgender athletes who sued to gain access to girls’ sports.
Walz’s comment was immediately criticized on social media by conservatives, many of whom were from Minnesota.
“What’s cruel is having a young girl who is already uncomfortable in her own skin change next to a naked boy in a locker room,” said Minnesota Republican State Senator Julia Coleman. Published on X. “What’s cruel is allowing our girls to be pushed out by biological males on the field, losing their scholarships and chances for greater competition. What’s cruel is putting your base above women’s safety and opportunities.”
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Minnesota Governor Tim Walz testifies at a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on March 4, 2026. The hearing examined allegations of misuse of federal funds for Minnesota social services and Medicaid programs. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
“Once again, you are disregarding the laws of America,” said retired Minnesota State Patrol Lt. John Nagel, who is running for Congress as a Republican in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District. Published on X. “You don’t support women’s rights. You don’t stand behind anything. You are the face of everything that is wrong with the Democratic party.”
“What Minnesota girl deserves to lose her spot on the team to a male athlete?” True North Law attorney Renee Carlson Published on X
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U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday, April 1, 2026 in Washington, DC, USA. President Donald Trump is fighting to end automatic citizenship for children born to parents who are in the country illegally or on temporary visas, as part of his broader crackdown on undocumented immigrants and in a change that could upend more than a century of legal precedent. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“Tim Walz calls the Supreme Court’s decision to protect young girls and keep boys out of sports ‘tyrannical,'” the Republican National Committee said in its account. Published on X “What’s actually ‘cruel’ is advocating the gender mutilation of children and allowing men into locker rooms, you pervert.”
“The real cruelty to these children is perpetuating the LIE that they can be different genders,” said Minnesota Republican State Senator Michael Holmstrom. Published on X. “The result of this is lives being destroyed and girls being victimized across the state. The DFL has lost its authenticity.”
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Democratic Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, January 5, 2026 in St. He spoke to reporters at the Minnesota State Capitol in Paul, Minnesota, after announcing he would not seek reelection. (Reuters/Tim Evans)
Townhall columnist Dustin Gage, “America’s Worst Governor” Published on X. “Thank goodness we got him out in the open and he’ll be retiring soon. Get well soon, Tim.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to Walz’s office for comment.
Later in the day, Walz announced to Fox 9 Minneapolis that his state’s stance toward girls in boys’ sports would not change as a result of the decision. reported.
“The Supreme Court has allowed states to be as cruel to transgender people as they want,” Walz told reporters. “They’ve also allowed states like Minnesota to be as kind and welcoming as they can, so I see it as a mixed bag.”
“Given what can be done, we’ll look at it as a positive. We can continue to treat our transgender athletes and youth with dignity, humanity, and respect in Minnesota. We’ll continue to do that, nothing will change there. Anything that involves kids, I want them to be involved. The idea that people who have never participated in any youth activity, having some kids not participate in bowling is ridiculous. I think Minnesotans think there are a lot of other things to worry about, more than three little kids somewhere who want to play sports.”
In highly anticipated decisions in West Virginia v. BPJ and Little v. Hecox, the high court upheld state laws requiring student-athletes to compete on sports teams that correspond to their biological sex at birth rather than their gender identity.
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3.
More than half of the states in the U.S. now have the authority to enforce protections for women’s sports without fear of legal challenge.
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But 23 states, including California, New York and Massachusetts, still do not have such laws, and some of them have laws designed to protect transgender athletes in girls’ sports.
Fox News Digital’s Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.
