Ex-Vikings Player Criticizes Minnesota AG as State Sues Trump Over Transgender Girl Sports Policies

Former Minnesota Vikings and University of Minnesota football player Jack Brewer has voiced strong opposition to Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s legal battle with the Trump administration over the participation of transgender athletes in girls’ sports. The dispute centers on Minnesota’s refusal to enforce a federal executive order that would bar transgender women from participating in female athletic competitions—an order issued by former President Donald Trump.

Ellison’s office recently filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, seeking to prevent the Trump administration and Department of Justice from enforcing penalties against states that allow transgender athletes in girls’ sports. The Attorney General has argued that the federal government lacks the authority to dictate statewide athletic gender policies through executive action.

Brewer criticized Ellison’s position, asserting, “It’s embarrassing to watch a Black man stand before the nation and promote boys competing against girls.” He also questioned Ellison’s familiarity with competitive sports, stating, “It’s like he’s never stepped foot in a real locker room... It’s heartbreaking for any former Gopher, any former Viking, any professional athlete who’s lived in that great city.”

The controversy has been reignited following reports that a transgender pitcher led a girls’ softball team to 14 consecutive wins and was named first-team All-State—a development that, according to Brewer, undermines fairness and safety in girls’ athletics. Brewer argued that allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports could lead to injuries and diminish women’s opportunities, especially in a rapidly growing sport like women’s softball.

White House Condemnation
The White House has also weighed in, with spokesperson Harrison Fields stating, “Why would a grown man sue the Trump administration to allow other biological males to participate in women’s sports? This is creepy and anti-woman.”

“The state has veered so far off course that it’s doing the exact opposite of what it once stood for. It used to be a national leader on Title IX and women’s rights. Now, it’s destroying women’s sports, degrading women and promoting situations where men are physically dominating women,” Brewer said, expressing concern that political interests were taking precedence over the welfare of female athletes.

On the other side of the dispute, Ellison insists that defending the inclusion of transgender athletes is about standing up for vulnerable children. At a news conference announcing the lawsuit, he said, “We will not let a small group of vulnerable children who are only trying be healthy and live their lives be demonized.”

Minnesota Defies Federal Directives
Minnesota became the first state to sue the Department of Justice over potential funding cuts related to transgender participation in school sports. - The Minnesota State High School League has declared it will not comply with the federal executive order, citing obligations under the Minnesota Human Rights Act. - The state legislature’s failure to pass the Preserving Girls’ Sports Act earlier this year left the issue unsettled at the local level.

A recent New York Times/Ipsos survey found that 79% of Americans, including a majority of Democrats, do not support allowing transgender women and girls to compete in female sports divisions. The poll underscores the broad public disagreement fueling the contentious debate.

As Minnesota’s lawsuit proceeds, the outcome could influence how other states handle the intersection of transgender rights, athletic eligibility, and federal funding. For now, stakeholders remain sharply divided, with athletes, parents, lawmakers, and activists on both sides watching closely as the legal and cultural battle unfolds.