President Donald Trump is threatening to withhold “massive” federal funding to the state of California after a biologically male trans athlete attacked biologically female athletes during qualifying events for the state Interscholastic Federation (CIF) track and field championships and will now compete in the upcoming state championships.
“IT IS NOT FAIR AND IS TOTALLY DEGRADABLE TO WOMEN AND GIRLS,” Trump posted on Truth Social on Tuesday morning.
“Please be advised that extensive federal funding will be suspended, possibly permanently, if this executive order is not followed,” Trump wrote, adding, “The Governor himself said it was ‘UNFAIR.'”
Trump then ordered local authorities to “not allow the person to compete in the state finals during the transition period, if necessary,” adding that it was “an absolutely ridiculous situation!!.”
Trump referenced comments from California Governor Gavin Newsom in March in which he said that the participation of transgender athletes in girls’ sports was “extremely unfair.”
At the CIF Masters Qualifying Tournament, the trans athlete won with a score of 40-04.75, while the runner-up only managed 39-06.00. In the long jump, the trans athlete’s margin of victory was smaller, reaching 19-03.50, while the runner-up achieved a score of 19-00.75, Fox News reports.
At the long jump medal ceremony, the third-place athlete did not show up and did not accept his third-place medal alongside a transgender athlete. The reason has not been disclosed. The second-place athlete received noticeably louder applause.
“As a parent of a female jumper, we’ve seen this happen at the last three track and field events. Today we saw incredible female athletes lose their chances of going to states to biological male athletes. I can’t imagine how devastating it would be to work so hard and then unfairly lose the opportunity to compete at states. It’s heartbreaking,” local parent Tracy Howton told Fox.
“Governor Newsom, our California elected officials, and the CIF are failing our girls. It’s as simple as that. They owe California’s female athletes something. They owe them responsible decisions based on science and basic facts. For our family, this experience has reinforced how important it is to speak up for the truth, while remembering that bad decisions can be corrected.”
Earlier this month, the Trump administration sent a warning to the CIF and the trans athlete’s school — Jurupa Valley High School — warning of consequences if the athlete is allowed to continue competing.
The U.S. Department of Education is already investigating the CIF for flouting Trump’s “Men Out of Women’s Sports” order. The federation came under further scrutiny when its officials allegedly forced athletes to remove “Protect Girls’ Sports” shirts during the Southern Sectional preliminaries on May 10.
“The CIF and Jurupa Valley High School’s flagrant disregard for federal civil rights law by allowing a male athlete to compete in the California Women’s Track and Field Championships this Saturday [in the Southern Division 3 finals] and the alleged retaliation against girls who protested against it is unacceptable,” Department of Education spokeswoman Julie Hartman previously told the publication. “We will not allow institutions to trample on women’s civil rights. The OCR (Office for Civil Rights) investigation into CIF continues vigorously.”
The high school responded to Fox in a statement, saying, “JUSD continues to comply with both California law and CIF policy regarding school sports. Both state law and CIF policy currently require that students be allowed to participate in sports teams and competitions consistent with their gender identity, regardless of the gender indicated on the student’s records. JUSD remains committed to protecting the rights and safety of the students it serves in accordance with applicable state and federal laws.”
