Tim Walz mocked for calling Supreme Court's protection of girls' sports 'cruel'

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is facing backlash online after condemning a recent Supreme Court decision aimed at protecting girls’ sports from biological male competitors, calling the court’s ruling “cruel.”

After the Supreme Court ruled to uphold state laws that require student athletes to compete in categories that coincide with their biological sex, Walz wrote in a post on X, “As the Supreme Court says states can be cruel to trans kids, my message is clear: Here in Minnesota, we stand with and value our trans neighbors and youth.”

Critics, however, quickly condemned Walz for using the word “cruel.” Minnesota Republican state Senator Julia Coleman responded, “What’s cruel is making a teenage girl, already uncomfortable in her own skin, change in a locker room next to a naked boy.”

“What’s cruel is letting our girls get the sh*t kicked out of them by biological males on the field and lose out on scholarships and more chances to compete. What’s cruel is putting your base above female safety and opportunities,” she added.

The Republican National Committee’s research account chimed in, responding to Walz by writing, “Tim Walz calls it ‘cruel’ that the Supreme Court ruled to protect young girls and keep men out of their sports. What’s actually ‘cruel’ is advocating for the gender mutilation of children and letting men in their locker rooms you sicko.”

Minnesota Republican state Senator Michael Holmstrom also said that “True cruelty to these children is perpetuating the LIE that they can be a different gender. The consequence of which is the destruction of lives - and the victimization of girls across the state.”

Skateboarder and women’s sports advocate Taylor Silverman wrote, "You know what’s actually cruel? Lying to and mutilating children. Your lies won’t work creepy Tampon Timmy." 

Speaking to reporters after the ruling, Walz said that his state would continue allowing transgender-identifying athletes to compete under the state’s current policies, which allow them to compete with their so-called “gender identity” rather than their sex.

"The Supreme Court has allowed states to be as cruel as they want to be to transgender people," Walz said, according to Fox9. "They’ve also allowed states like Minnesota to be as kind and welcoming as they can, so I kind of view this as a mixed bag."

"We’re going to view it as a positive considering what could have been done,” he continued. “In Minnesota, we can continue to treat our transgender athletes and youth with dignity and humanity and respect. We’ll continue to do that, nothing will change there. Anything that gets kids involved, I want them to be involved. This idea of folks who have never been to any youth event are hell-bent on making sure some kid doesn’t participate in bowling is ludicrous. I think Minnesotans find there’s a lot of other things to worry about than three little kids wanting to play sports somewhere."