Trump Claims Hospitals Are Performing “Reverse Surgery” on Transgender Patients – Fact Check

He made the statement while campaigning for U.S. Senate candidate Darline Graham, who is seeking the seat vacated by her brother Lindsey Graham. The claim was presented as part of a broader appeal to voters concerned about transgender issues and “boys in girls’ sports.”

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No presidential directive mandates hospitals to perform any “reverse” procedures. A January 2025 executive order targeted gender-affirming care by directing federal agencies to withhold funding from institutions that provide puberty blockers, hormones, or surgery to patients under 19, but it did not order surgical reversals. A separate rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, scheduled to take effect October 13, will pause Medicaid and CHIP payments for gender-affirming care for minors while allowing a six-month transition period.

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In May, Texas Children’s Hospital agreed to a $10 million settlement, ending gender-affirming care for minors and establishing a “restorative care” clinic for detransitioners, without admitting liability. In June, the Cleveland Clinic pledged $2 million for similar services and $308 000 to resolve billing allegations, while also committing to refrain from most gender-affirming care for minors for 20 years. Neither agreement requires patients to undergo detransition surgery.

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A 2024 JAMA Network Open study of insurance claims for nearly 23 million minors found no gender-affirming surgeries among children 12 or younger in 2019. Surgery rates were 0.1 per 100,000 for ages 13-14 and 2.1 per 100,000 for ages 15-17, with 82 of 85 procedures being chest-related. Major medical societies—including the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, and Endocrine Society—continue to endorse individualized, evidence-based gender-affirming care.

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Health-policy adviser Adrian Shanker said Trump’s remarks show why and that “hospitals really should not be agreeing to such nonsense.” Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, chief medical officer at Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, emphasized that medical decisions belong between providers, patients, and families, not non-clinicians.

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• “In fact, hospitals now are doing reverse surgery at my order,” — Donald Trump, president

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• “I don’t really know what President Trump means by reverse surgeries, but the reality is that he should leave medical decision-making up to the patient and their providers to discuss what medical care is right for a certain patient,” — November. Adrian Shanker

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• “I’m just going to be honest here,” — S. Sen. Darline Graham

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• “But I think people in South Carolina are more worried about making ends meet. They are concerned about boys in girls’ sports.” — Donald Trump, president

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