WATCH: This Republican Presidential Candidate Clashes With NBC Host Over Child Sex Reassignment Surgery

The discussion centered on whether gender is a binary concept or a spectrum.

Ramaswamy argued for restrictions on medical procedures related to gender transition for individuals under 18. He likened these interventions to other age-restricted actions, saying, "There isn't a state in this union that allows you to smoke an addictive cigarette before the age of 18, that allows you to get a tattoo before the age of 18. That's a body-altering change that a kid may later regret in life."

The presidential candidate further asserted that people should be free to make decisions regarding their gender identity once they reach adulthood. "So, I think it is perfectly reasonable to say that if you're after 18 years old, you're free to decide whatever you want to do. That's what it means to live in a free country," Ramaswamy stated. "But below the age of 18, I think it's perfectly legitimate to say that we won't allow genital mutilation or chemical castration through puberty blockers."

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When Todd questioned Ramaswamy's certainty about the binary nature of gender, asking, "Are you confident that you know that gender is as binary as you're describing it? Are you confident that it isn't a spectrum?" Ramaswamy maintained his confidence in his stance.

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May 02, 2023

The NBC News host then inquired, "Do you know this as a scientist?"

"Well, there are two X chromosomes if you're a woman, and an X and a Y, that means you're a man," Ramaswamy replied as Todd attempted to interject.

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Todd countered by citing scientific research that supports the notion of gender as a spectrum, to which Ramaswamy respectfully disagreed. The Republican presidential candidate referred to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), which has historically classified gender dysphoria as a mental health disorder.

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"I don't think it's compassionate to affirm that. I think that's cruelty when a kid is crying out for help," Ramaswamy argued. "What they're asking for is you've got to ask the question of what else is going wrong at home, what else is going wrong at school? Let's be compassionate and get to the heart of that rather than playing this game as though we're actually changing our medical understanding for the last 100 years."

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Todd suggested that opting for sex-reassignment surgery would likely be a last resort for any parent faced with the decision.

Following the exchange, Ramaswamy took to Twitter to reiterate his views on gender, tweeting, "If you have XX chromosomes, you're a woman. If you have XY chromosomes, you're a man. That's the scientific truth." About the televised discussion, he also wrote, "Facts are a wonderful thing."