Olympic champion Kaillie Humphries is dealing with intense online criticism following her decision to honor President Donald Trump with a prestigious Olympic award during a White House ceremony this week.
The 40-year-old bobsledder, who changed her competitive allegiance from Canada to the United States in 2019, presented Trump with the Order of Ikkos during Thursday’s White House event celebrating women. The award, established by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee in 2008, takes its name from ancient Greece’s first documented Olympic coach and allows medal-winning American athletes to recognize individuals who played crucial roles in their achievements.
During an emotional presentation, Humphries specifically commended Trump’s stance on transgender participation in women’s athletics and his administration’s fertility treatment policies.
“I want to recognise the support and the impact you’ve had on women’s sports throughout the Olympic movement. Specifically, standing up to keep biological women in women’s sports, to keep the field of play safe and allow for fair competition,” said Humphries.
“Furthermore, because your policies are creating greater access to IVF, so families like mine can continue to grow as I look to expand my family again. I believe this actually makes you the first president in history to ever be awarded an Order of Ikkos. So, thank you.”
The president recently implemented an executive order in February 2025 prohibiting transgender girls and women from participating in female sports competitions. That same month, he also signed legislation expanding IVF accessibility while working to lower costs for the fertility procedure.
Following her formal remarks and photo opportunity with Trump, Humphries returned to express additional praise: “Isn’t he just the best? He’s the best.”
Trump appeared caught off guard by receiving the honor and replied: “I knew I liked her.”
Social media users quickly responded negatively once footage of the ceremony began spreading online. Critical comments included one X user stating “I’m embarrassed for Canada. You can keep her” and another writing “Thank goodness she doesn’t compete for Canada any longer.”
USA Bobsled/Skeleton has not responded to requests for comment regarding Humphries’ presentation or provided any statement on her behalf.
Humphries achieved Olympic glory representing Canada with gold medals in two-woman bobsled at the 2010 Vancouver and 2014 Sochi Games, plus a bronze at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics before her nationality switch. Competing for Team USA, she claimed the inaugural Olympic monobob gold medal at the 2022 Winter Games and added two more bronze medals at last month’s Milano Cortina Olympics.
