Trump Warns California: Federal Funds May Be Cut Over Trans Athlete

President Donald Trump has warned that he may suspend federal funding to California if the state allows a transgender high school athlete to compete in the girls’ state finals.

In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump criticized California for allowing “men to play in women’s sports” and wrote, “large scale Federal Funding will be held back, maybe permanently,” if the executive order he signed in February is not enforced. The order opposes the participation of male athletes in female sports. He added that he would speak with Governor Gavin Newsom and, if necessary, instruct local authorities to prevent the athlete from competing.

Although Trump did not name the athlete, the Los Angeles Times reported on May 27 that the post likely referred to AB Hernandez, a 16-year-old junior at Jurupa Valley High School in Riverside County. On May 24, Hernandez won first place in the girls’ triple jump and long jump events at the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section Masters, qualifying for the state championships scheduled for May 30–31.

Trump described the situation as “totally demeaning to women and girls” and claimed that Hernandez had been “less than average” when competing as a male but is now “practically unbeatable.”

Trump’s February executive order states that states allowing male athletes to participate in female sports risk losing federal education funding.

The CIF issued a statement saying its mission is to provide “a sense of belonging and fair opportunity to all student-athletes,” and that it would continue to follow California law and education regulations.

Governor Newsom has not released an official statement. However, earlier this year, he said on a podcast that it is “very unfair” for biological males to compete in female sports and expressed openness to discussions about finding a balanced approach.

BY HANKIL KANG [kang.hankil@koreadaily.com]