The President threatened to revoke federal funding from California over a transgender high school track and field athlete who qualified over the weekend for the state championship meet, instructing local authorities to block the student from participating.
Trump threatens to block funds
In a post on Truth Social, Trump railed against 16-year-old AB Hernandez, a junior at Jurupa Valley High School in Southern California who won the girls long jump and triple jump at the California Interscholastic Federation’s Southern Section Masters meet May 24, qualifying for the state championships that will take place May 30-31.
He said Hernandez won “everything” at the meet — she tied for fourth in the high jump, also qualifying for the state championships in that event — and falsely claimed she had previously competed on the boys team. Hernandez came out as transgender in the eighth grade, her mother, Nereyda, said in an April interview with Capital and Main, a nonprofit news organization in California.
“Please be hereby advised that large scale Federal Funding will be held back, maybe permanently, if the Executive Order on this subject matter is not adhered to,” the president wrote in a post on Truth Social, alluding to his February executive order banning transgender women from competing in women’s sports, which delivered on one of his key campaign issues.“THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS,” Trump wrote Tuesday. “California, under the leadership of Radical Left Democrat Gavin Newscum, continues to ILLEGALLY allow “MEN TO PLAY IN WOMEN’S SPORTS.” This week a transitioned Male athlete, at a major event, won “everything,” and is now qualified to compete in the “State Finals” next weekend. As a Male, he was a less than average competitor. As a Female, this transitioned person is practically unbeatable. THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS. Please be hereby advised that large scale Federal Funding will be held back, maybe permanently, if the Executive Order on this subject matter is not adhered to. The Governor, himself, said it is “UNFAIR.” I will speak to him today to find out which way he wants to go??? In the meantime I am ordering local authorities, if necessary, to not allow the transitioned person to compete in the State Finals. This is a totally ridiculous situation!!!,” his post read.
The order Trump signed in February states that “it is the policy of the United States to oppose male competitive participation in women’s sports” and threatens to “rescind all funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities.” At a signing ceremony in Washington, D.C., Trump said his administration will not allow transgender athletes to compete in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Newsom praises change
California Gov. Gavin Newsom recently said on his podcast that it’s “deeply unfair” for transgender girls to participate in girls sports. Charlie Kirk, the conservative commentator and podcast guest, referenced Hernandez when asking Newsom about the issue.
Trump said he planned to talk to Newsom about it Tuesday. The governor’s office did not confirm the call but said the California Interscholastic Federation rule change was a “thoughtful approach.”
“CIF’s proposed pilot is a reasonable, respectful way to navigate a complex issue without compromising competitive fairness — a model worth pursuing,” Newsom’s spokesperson Izzy Gardon said.
Sophia Lorey with the conservative California Family Council, which has protested Hernandez competing in girls sports, said the rule change was “damage control.”
“Girls who were unfairly eliminated are suddenly back in for State this weekend,” Lorey said. “This is a step in the right direction, but let’s be real: this never should’ve happened. Boys don’t belong in girls sports.”
Democratic state lawmakers blocked bills last month that would have barred transgender girls from participating in girls sports.
California changes rules for field events
The governing body for high school sports in California is adjusting its competition rules at this weekend’s state track and field championships to allow more girls to participate, following controversy surrounding a transgender student-athlete.
The California Interscholastic Federation announced on Tuesday that it will expand opportunities for more “biological female” athletes to compete in the championship meet. The decision came after Trump commented on the participation of a transgender athlete via his social media platform.
“Under this pilot entry process, any biological female student-athlete who would have earned the next qualifying mark for one of their Section’s automatic qualifying entries in the CIF State meet, and did not achieve the CIF State at-large mark in the finals at their Section meet, was extended an opportunity to participate in the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships,” the federation said in a statement. “The CIF believes this pilot entry process achieves the participation opportunities we seek to afford our student-athletes.”
The move comes amid a nationwide battle over the rights of transgender youth in which states have limited transgender girls from participating on girls sports teams, barred gender-affirming surgeries for minors and required parents to be notified if a child changes their pronouns at school. At least 24 states have laws barring transgender women and girls from participating in certain sports competitions. Some of the policies have been blocked in court.
(With AP inputs)
