The South Dakota government, Kristi Noem, is defending its decision not to sign a bill banning transgender girls and women from participating in women’s sports in a heated exchange with Fox News host Tucker Carlson.
The “Tucker Carlson Tonight” presenter explained to viewers that the bill, which is largely popular in the state of Noem, almost went through with her support until “major issues intervene, [the] NCAA, Chamber of Commerce and Amazon and say you should not sign it – and you should change your mind. ‘
“Well, that’s not true, Tucker,” Noem shot back. “I can sign the bill as it is today … but it will not solve the problem.”
The Republican governor said she had returned the bill to the legislature on what she calls “style and form,” adding that she would sign it if lawmakers agree to her desired revisions.
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“This bill will only enable the NCAA to bully South Dakota,” she said. “And it would actually prevent women from participating in collegiate sports. What I did was I asked the legislature … to change the bill.”
Name said the bill would enable the NCAA to take criminal action against South Dakota.
“We had to fight hard to get tournaments to South Dakota,” she said. “Once we have taken sanctions against us, we would have to take legal action, and lawyers I have been consulting with for many months say I will probably lose the process.”
“Wait,” Carlson intervened. ‘So you say the NCAA threatened you … they said’ If you sign it, we will not allow girls to play in South Dakota ‘and you do not think you can win in court – although the public is overwhelming do you support nationally – and so are you working with the NCAA? he emphasized.
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Name dismissed Carlson’s insinuation as ‘completely wrong’ and reiterated her commitment to the protection of women’s sport.
Her strategy, she explained, involves the creation of a coalition to deter the NCAA from “bullying the state of South Dakota.”
“Listen, I’m sick and tired of the NCAA – threatening states, which challenge us and bully us, so we’re going to build a coalition of leaders, athletes and people who want to protect women’s sports,” she said.
When Carlson questioned why Noem did not take a more forceful approach to fighting in the ‘court of public opinion and defense principle’, the staunch Conservatives replied: ‘Tucker, you preach my sermon.’
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“Listen,” continues Name. “I’m not interested in a participation trophy. I’m not interested in choosing a fight we can not win. I’m a problem solver … and I’ve been bullied by liberals, Tucker, over the last year. I’m not going to let anyone from the NCAA, from any big business, I’m not even going to let conservatives on the right bully me, I’m going to solve the problem.
“I’m going to make sure we build strength in numbers, and we go after the NCAA and make sure we only keep girls in girls’ sports.”