Trump Slams Newsom After Transgender Athlete Wins California State Finals, Threatens Financial Penalties

President Donald Trump issued a direct warning to California Governor Gavin Newsom this week, threatening unprecedented financial penalties against the state following the victory of a transgender athlete in a high school girls’ competition, as reported by the Daily Mail.

The warning comes as the U.S. Department of Justice has declared California’s high school athletic policy allowing biological males to compete in girls’ sports unconstitutional.

In a post on Truth Social shortly after midnight Tuesday, Trump responded to the controversy involving AB Hernandez, a 16-year-old biological male who identifies as female and won two gold medals in the girls’ high jump and triple jump at the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) state finals on May 30–31.

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The event was held at Buchanan High School in Clovis, near Fresno.

What a complete embarrassment for CA. A guy wins girls events. #MentalIllness

Transgender athlete wins CIF track and field titles in girls high school events https://t.co/UICbUPdNhV

— HRM (@native68) June 3, 2025

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“A Biological Male competed in California Girls State Finals, WINNING BIG, despite the fact that they were warned by me not to do so,” Trump posted. “As Governor Gavin Newscum fully understands, large scale fines will be imposed!!!”

( @realDonaldTrump – Truth Social Post )
( Donald J. Trump – Jun 03, 2025, 12:46 AM ET )

A Biological Male competed in California Girls State Finals, WINNING BIG, despite the fact that they were warned by me not to do so. As Governor Gavin Newscum fully understands, large scale… pic.twitter.com/dZTFKQApIx

— Donald J. Trump TRUTH POSTS (@TruthTrumpPosts) June 3, 2025

The president’s statement came as the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division issued a formal letter to California public school districts, demanding they cease enforcement of CIF Bylaw 300.D, which mandates that athletes be allowed to compete in accordance with their gender identity.

The DOJ cited the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment in determining that the policy constitutes unlawful sex discrimination.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon wrote, “Section 300.D, however, is facially unconstitutional. Knowingly depriving female students of athletic opportunities and benefits on the basis of their sex would constitute unconstitutional sex discrimination.”

School districts have been given until 5:00 p.m. ET on June 9 to confirm in writing that they will no longer implement the policy. Failure to comply could result in legal consequences.

Sonja Shaw, President of the Chino Valley Unified School District Board, responded to the DOJ’s directive with strong language directed at state leadership.

“Newsom and the political cartel… you’re going to lose. We won’t back down. We won’t forget. You’re on the wrong side of history.”

Riley Gaines, a women’s sports advocate and former NCAA swimmer, condemned the athlete’s participation and criticized the athlete’s mother for enabling the situation.

“I believe she is using her son to live out some fantasy,” Gaines told Daily Mail. She called the situation “unfair” to biological females and pointed the blame at the state’s policies.

In January, Trump signed the “Keep Men Out of Women’s Sports” executive order, which restricts federal funding to institutions that allow biological males to compete in female athletic events.

The administration has since ramped up federal scrutiny on state policies contradicting the order.

The CIF and Governor Newsom’s office have not yet issued statements responding to either the DOJ’s letter or the president’s threat of fines. A trial over the matter could set a national precedent.

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