Trump Threatens Massive Fines on California Over Trans Athlete’s State Championship Wins

by Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Staff

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Worthy News) – President Donald Trump issued a stern warning Monday night that California will face “large scale fines” after a transgender-identifying male athlete captured state titles in two high school girls’ track and field events — defying a recent executive order banning biological males from competing in female athletic competitions.

The controversy centers on A.B. Hernandez, a 16-year-old biological male from Jurupa Valley High School who identifies as female. Hernandez won first place in both the high jump and triple jump at the California State Finals held Saturday in Clovis.

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

Executive Order Ignored

In February, Trump signed an executive order banning male athletes from competing in girls’ sports in schools that receive federal funding, citing protections under Title IX. Despite this, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) modified its policies to allow Hernandez to participate in the girls’ division, sparking outrage among advocates for women’s sports.

In a compromise, CIF allowed biological girls who placed behind Hernandez to receive gold medals, still, creating what many described as an “awkward podium situation.” Jillene Wetteland and Lelani Laruelle were named co-winners in the high jump, while Hernandez was also awarded the top spot. In the triple jump, Hernandez cleared 42 feet, 2 inches, beating the nearest female competitor, Kira Grant Hatcher, by nearly two feet.

Governor Gavin Newsom praised the CIF policy as a “reasonable and respectful” balance between inclusivity and competitive fairness. However, President Trump and civil rights officials in his administration strongly disagreed.

DOJ Threatens Legal Action

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon announced on Monday that the Department of Justice has found “reasonable cause” to believe California’s policy violates Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution.

“My office is prepared to take legal action against California schools that enforce this bylaw,” Dhillon said, giving over 1,600 CIF-member schools until June 9 to certify that they will no longer allow biological males to compete in female divisions or face “legal liability.”

The bylaw in question, originally passed to comply with California’s 2013 law regarding gender identity, allows students to compete in sports based on their gender identity, regardless of their biological sex. The Trump administration maintains that this undermines fairness and violates federal protections for female athletes.

State and Federal Tensions Rise

This isn’t the first time the Trump administration has clashed with states over gender policies in sports. The Department of Justice has launched similar investigations in Maine and Minnesota, where state laws conflict with federal directives on Title IX. In Maine, federal funding was temporarily frozen before a legal settlement was negotiated.

California now finds itself in the crosshairs. In a recent interview, Newsom admitted to conservative commentator Charlie Kirk that the issue was “deeply unfair,” though he has yet to change course publicly.

Trump’s executive order allows the administration to withhold education funds and levy penalties against states that refuse to comply. While Newsom’s office did not respond to requests for comment, the political and legal pressure continues to mount.

High School Girls Speak Out

While some student-athletes supported Hernandez, others expressed frustration. “We train so hard all season for moments like this, and it feels like the rules keep shifting,” said one competitor who asked to remain anonymous. “This isn’t just about inclusion — it’s about fairness.”

With lawsuits, investigations, and executive orders now entangled in the issue, California’s decision could become a national precedent — either reinforcing the president’s order or igniting a constitutional battle over states’ rights and gender policies in public schools.

The Department of Justice says it expects to issue formal findings by the end of June.

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