In a sharp response to one of President Donald Trump’s newly signed executive orders, U.S. Representative Sarah McBride pointed out a surprising contradiction that few saw coming. Trump’s order, aimed at strictly defining gender recognition in the United States, asserts that government-issued documents will acknowledge only two sexes—male and female.
According to the order, someone classified as female is defined as a person who, from conception, belongs to the sex producing the larger reproductive cell (egg), while a male is defined as one belonging to the sex producing the smaller reproductive cell (sperm).
However, McBride, the first openly transgender member of Congress, quickly flagged an important biological fact that the executive order overlooks. She humorously noted that, based on this definition, the president had effectively declared everyone a woman at conception.
This is because all human embryos, regardless of eventual biological sex, initially follow a female developmental path until the SRY gene on the Y chromosome triggers male differentiation around the sixth week of development. Until this gene becomes active, embryos possess only phenotypically female characteristics linked to the X chromosome.
In an interview with The Independent, McBride highlighted the irony by pointing to basic embryology: “Trump just declared everyone a woman from conception,” she remarked, drawing attention to the flawed logic underlying the order.
Trump’s sweeping actions on his first day back in office have sparked intense debate. His executive orders include halting diversity and equity initiatives, revoking birthright citizenship, and pulling the United States out of the World Health Organization.
Additionally, he announced pardons for individuals involved in the events of January 6, 2021. While he promised to eliminate what he called “government-imposed social engineering” of race and gender, critics argue that these moves further entrench rigid and scientifically questionable definitions of identity.
