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President Donald Trump has announced that California will face “large scale fines” and potential legal action after a transgender high school athlete won two events at the state’s track and field championship.
Some shit you should know before you read: Shortly after President Trump returned to office, he signed an executive order aimed at banning transgender women and girls from participating in female athletic programs at educational institutions that receive federal funding. The order states that “it is the policy of the United States to oppose male competitive participation in women’s sports,” and mandates that schools, colleges, and universities must align with this definition to remain eligible for federal education funding. The directive warns that noncompliance could result in the immediate suspension or permanent revocation of federal funds, including those allocated for school meals, Title I grants, and special education programs. The order applies broadly across all levels of education and includes a provision directing the Department of Education to initiate investigations and enforcement actions against institutions in violation.
What’s going on now: In a notable development, President Trump took to Truth Social to warn California over its handling of transgender athlete participation in high school sports. Trump wrote, “A Biological Male competed in California Girls State Finals, WINNING BIG, despite the fact that they were warned by me not to do so.“ He continued, “As Governor Gavin Newscum fully understands, large scale fines will be imposed!!!”
Trump’s remarks came in response to the performance of AB Hernandez, a 16-year-old transgender student from Jurupa Valley High School, who won first place in both the high jump and triple jump, and took second in the long jump during the state championship meet.
Hernandez’s victories were made possible under a longstanding California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) bylaw, which allows students to compete in sports consistent with their gender identity. In anticipation of public backlash and legal scrutiny, the CIF introduced a rule for the championship that allowed additional athletes to share the podium with Hernandez, enabling other competitors to still receive medals based on their performance.
In response to the event, the US Department of Justice, led by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Civil Rights Division, sent a letter to California public school districts demanding they halt enforcement of the CIF policy by June 9. The letter argued that allowing transgender athletes to compete in female categories constitutes sex-based discrimination under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment and violates Title IX. The DOJ warned that failure to comply could expose the state’s school systems to lawsuits and potential loss of federal funding.
As of now, California Governor Gavin Newsom has not responded to Trump’s comments yet.
