President Donald Trump has jokingly given former NBA stars Dennis Rodman and Enes Kanter Freedom a presidential “pardon” to compete in women’s sports, predicting that the two retired basketball players would demolish records if allowed on the court.
Trump made the remarks Thursday during a rally in Durant, Oklahoma, where both Rodman and Freedom were in attendance.
President Trump deliver the 2026 State of the Union Address – Fox News, YouTube
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The president initially singled out Freedom while discussing the ongoing debate over biologically male athletes competing in women’s sports.
“The radical left wants men playing in women’s sports,” Trump said before pointing out the former NBA center in the crowd.
Trump joked that Freedom was a “monster” who dreams about playing against women and is willing to say he is a woman to make it happen.
“And I don’t think he really believes that, but that’s okay. These are minor details,” Trump remarked.
Freedom has, in fact, declared himself a prospect for the 2027 WNBA Draft, although his announcement was intended to highlight the league’s failure to clearly define who qualifies as a woman rather than launch a serious basketball comeback.
Trump Gives Freedom and Rodman an ‘Exemption’
Freedom announced his plans in August, arguing that if self-identification is sufficient to qualify someone for women’s basketball, the same standard should apply to him.
“If simply declaring who you are is all that’s required, then I meet every single requirement necessary to compete in the WNBA,” Freedom said at the time.
After careful consideration and reviewing the current eligibility guidelines,
I’m officially declaring myself a @WNBA prospect.If simply declaring who you are is all that’s required, then I meet every single requirement necessary to compete in the WNBA.
My team and I have carefully examined the WNBA’s eligibility criteria and governing framework surrounding self-identification and inclusion. Based on the current guidelines, I can and am officially declaring my eligibility for the upcoming WNBA draft in April 2027.
I know my presence on the court will stir up strong opinions.
I am definitely not here to mock, make fun of, or disrespect any community or personal choices.
I’m simply asking that the current rules be applied equally to everyone — the rules that represent the very values many WNBA players and coaches have publicly advocated for.
My team and I are prepared to ensure these guidelines are applied equally, consistently, and without exception, and I look forward to the #WNBA honoring its stated principles.See you at training camp.
https://t.co/zlwWpVF0Ou
— Enes Kanter FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) August 7, 2026
The former NBA center insisted that he was not attempting to mock any community. Instead, he said he wanted the WNBA to apply its standards “equally, consistently, and without exception.”
Multiple league sources subsequently told reporters that Freedom would not be eligible for the 2027 WNBA Draft, although the WNBA did not publicly issue a formal ruling on his eligibility or clarify how it defines a woman for purposes of league eligibility.
Freedom continued pressing the issue in August, when he was ejected from a WNBA game while wearing a shirt displaying a dictionary definition of the word “woman.” The shirt appeared to spark a heated reaction from Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud.
Trump Brings Dennis Rodman Into the Joke
Trump also brought Rodman into the joke Thursday, asking the 65-year-old five-time NBA champion whether he thought he could still compete in women’s basketball.
Rodman has not announced any plans to enter the WNBA.
There is, however, a certain irony in Trump selecting Rodman for the joke. During his playing career, Rodman became famous for challenging conventional fashion and gender norms, most memorably wearing a wedding dress in 1996 while promoting his autobiography and declaring that he was marrying himself.
Dennis Rodman in a 1997 interview – ESPN, YouTube
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“So, those two guys, they are good. And they have an exemption. I’m giving them a full pardon that they can go into women’s sports anytime they want,” Trump said.
The president then predicted the aging NBA veterans would still dominate female competition.
“And I guarantee you when they do, they will break, even though they’re slightly older, although Freedom looks like he’s pretty young, they will break every record in the history of women’s sports,” he continued.
Trump Embraces Freedom’s Argument
Of course, Trump’s “pardon” has no actual effect on WNBA eligibility. His remarks were instead another jab at policies allowing transgender athletes to participate in female sports.
Enes Kanter Freedom – Fox News, YouTube
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Freedom’s WNBA declaration was built around a similar argument. The 6-foot-10 former NBA center is attempting to expose what he sees as a contradiction between gender self-identification and eligibility for women’s professional basketball by applying the principle to himself.
The WNBA has not played along with Freedom’s attempted draft entry. Trump, however, was more than willing to embrace the stunt’s underlying argument — and jokingly added one of the greatest rebounders in NBA history to the prospective roster.
What do you think of Trump offering Rodman and Freedom a “pardon” to compete in women’s sports? Sound off and let us know!
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