President Donald Trump threatened to withhold federal funding from California if the state allows a transgender athlete to compete in the upcoming women’s state finals.
In a Truth Social post on Monday, Trump criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom, whom he referred to as “Gavin Newscum,” and called the athlete’s participation “demeaning to women and girls.”
Trump said he plans to speak with Newsom directly and has instructed local authorities to block the athlete’s participation if necessary. He cited his own February executive order, “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” which bars transgender women and girls from competing in female athletic categories and directs federal agencies to enforce this policy under Title IX.
Newsom, a Democrat, previously drew backlash from progressives after calling trans inclusion in women’s sports “deeply unfair” during a podcast with conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
