Trump Says He'll Give Dennis Rodman and Enes Kanter Freedom a "Full Pardon" to Play Women's Sports

President Donald Trump told supporters at a rally in Durant, Oklahoma, on Thursday night that he would give former NBA stars Dennis Rodman and Enes Kanter Freedom a "full pardon" to play in women's sports, predicting the pair would break "every record in the history of women's sports."

Both Rodman and Kanter Freedom were in attendance at the rally as the president spoke.

Trump praised Rodman's basketball career during his remarks, referring to the former forward's time at Oklahoma State University. Rodman, however, did not attend Oklahoma State University. He played at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

The president also highlighted Rodman's championship success in the NBA.

"You're a five-time NBA champion, Dennis. Man oh man, that's good," Trump said.

Trump then turned to both players and made his pledge.

"So [Rodman and Kanter Freedom], they are good and they have an exemption," Trump said. "I'm giving them a full pardon that they can go into women's sports anytime they want."

The president went on to predict how the two former NBA players would perform if they made the move.

"And I guarantee — he's giving me a Thunder jacket — and I guarantee you when they do, they will break, even though they're slightly older — although Freedom looks like he's pretty young — they will break every record in the history of women's sports," Trump said.

Rodman, who retired from the NBA in 2000, is a friend of the president. He once took credit for helping to set up the historic 2018 meeting between Trump and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un.

While online rumors have suggested otherwise, Rodman has never expressed any interest in playing in the WNBA.

Kanter Freedom is a different story. In August, the former NBA player declared for the WNBA draft. The move was part of his campaign against the league over the way it handles transgender issues.

The president's comments at the Oklahoma rally put a spotlight on that campaign, with Trump publicly backing the idea of the two former NBA players stepping onto the court in women's sports.

Trump's remarks drew attention to Kanter Freedom's effort to challenge the WNBA's approach, an effort he formally launched when he declared for the league's draft over the summer.

For Rodman, the rally offered another public moment alongside the president. The former NBA champion has long been connected to Trump, including through his claimed role in helping arrange the 2018 meeting with Kim Jong-Un.

At the rally, Trump appeared to receive a Thunder jacket as he spoke, mentioning it in the middle of his remarks about the two players.

The president did not explain how such a pardon would work. His comments, delivered before a crowd of supporters, came with both former NBA stars on hand to hear them.

Whether either player will actually take the court in women's sports remains to be seen. Rodman has shown no interest in doing so, while Kanter Freedom has already taken the step of declaring for the WNBA draft as part of his campaign against the league's transgender policy.