Rahm Emanuel rejects trans identities in appearance with Megyn Kelly: “Can a man become a woman? No.”
The former Obama and Clinton adviser said “it just can’t happen” and downplayed the backlash as “just sound”
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From the July 21, 2025, edition of SiriusXM's The Megyn Kelly Show
MEGYN KELLY (HOST): So let me just ask you a couple of things quick: so do you believe boys should be able to play in girls' sports?
ROB EMANUEL (GUEST): No.
[...]
KELLY: Do you believe that kids under the age of 18 should be able to be put on puberty blockers and cross sex hormones?
EMANUEL: I think that parents have to make that decision themselves. I think that child is too young at 18 to make that decision, it has to be made with the family, and that choice. I think that before somebody makes a life decision, they have to think twice about that.
KELLY: So you disagree with the Tim Walz policy in Minnesota that a child that doesn't get affirmed by his parents can go into Minnesota and get jurisdiction there and get the parental decision overruled.
EMANUEL: Look, I think these are life decisions, and I'm also slightly both — I have two strains that influence that opinion: one, that is a life decision, and a child can't make that decision. You have to have some moral development and character and judgement and foundation for that. Two: parents have to be involved in that, and I think that's for them to make. I don't think the public should be in that space.
KELLY: There are some parents out there that are completely whacked in the head. There really are.
EMANUEL: Well, that's not news, is it?
KELLY: No, it's not news but to me it's terrifying.
EMANUEL: Look, I left this out but I want to repeat it: I have a son and two daughters, and they are physically different. And that's why when it comes to sports —
KELLY: Why did the Democrats bail off of that point? A couple came out right after the election and they said what you just said, and they got browbeaten —
EMANUEL: The answer is in the question, I mean, that's not ever scared me. I used to say this to President Clinton and President Obama: sound is not always fury, sometimes it's just sound. And don't assume just because somebody's screaming at you that they represent more than their own voice.
KELLY: Should we be putting men in female prisons? Men claiming they're women.
EMANUEL: No.
KELLY: And, alright, and here's my last one for you: can a man become a woman?
EMANUEL: Can a man become a woman? Uh, no.
KELLY: Thank you. That's so easy, why don't more people in your party just say that?
EMANUEL: Because I'm now going to go into a witness protection plan. [laughter]
KELLY: My money's on you, I think you'll be fine. No, it's just so nice to hear the truth said without qualifications.
EMANUEL: Look, it just can't happen.