Paul grills Biden education secretary nominee over support of transgender athletes in women's sports: 'What planet are you from?'

Sen. Rand Paul blasted President Biden’s education secretary nominee Miguel Cardona in a heated exchange over transgender sporting events. 

The Kentucky Republican pressed Cardona, who has served as Connecticut’s education commissioner since 2019, multiple times on whether or not he believes biological males should be permitted to compete against females.

“What do you think in general of boys running in girls’ track meets like they’ve been doing in Connecticut?” Paul asked. “Do you worry about having boys run in girls’ track meets?”
“I think it’s appropriate — I think it’s the legal responsibility for schools to provide opportunities for students to participate in activities, and this includes students who are transgender,” Cardona replied.

Paul then posited the question again, asking, “So, you don’t have a problem then, of boys running in the girls’ track meets, swimming meets, you name it, you’re OK then with boys competing with girls?”

“Respectfully, senator, I believe I answered the question,” Cardona said.

Paul shot back, arguing that Cardona was “afraid” to directly acknowledge that he is not bothered by males playing sports against females and perhaps taking scholarships from them. In Paul’s opinion, that fear of answering the question “really is a statement to a real problem we have and a disconnect between middle America and what most Americans actually believe.”

“Who are these people that think it’s OK? From what planet are you from?” Paul added.