President Donald Trump issued a stern warning on Tuesday, stating he would consider revoking “large scale federal funding” to California if the state does not comply with his executive order prohibiting transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports.
Trump indicated that such funding could be permanently withheld if California persists in ignoring the February 5 directive, as he expressed on Truth Social.
In his statement, the president criticized a transgender athlete who has qualified to participate in an upcoming competition, describing her as “practically unbeatable.”
Trump stated he would direct “local authorities, if necessary, to not allow the transitioned person to compete in the State Finals.”
He further disclosed plans to have a conversation with California Governor Gavin Newsom later on Tuesday to assess the state’s position regarding the issue.
While Trump did not specify which athlete he was referring to, AB Hernandez, a transgender girl competing in California high school track and field, has recently attracted significant media attention for her performances.
The potential threat to federal funding could carry substantial implications for California, recognized as the fourth largest economy globally.
Federal contributions constitute more than one-third of the state’s budget, according to the California Budget and Policy Center. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the budget includes over $170 billion in federal funding.
Trump’s readiness to revoke federal funds echoes his prior pattern of threatening cancellation of billions allocated to universities, cities, and other institutions over disagreements with their policies.
Earlier in the day, Trump announced plans to terminate all remaining federal contracts with Harvard University, which reportedly amount to about $100 million, as part of his latest actions against the prestigious institution.
He has also previously threatened to withhold federal funds from Maine over the state’s adherence to his executive order prohibiting transgender women and girls from competing in female sports.
Newsom, considered a strong candidate for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, has been an outspoken critic of several of Trump’s policies, including those regarding tariffs and immigration.
In April, he downplayed the discourse surrounding transgender athletes, asserting that the issue has been “weaponized by the right to be 10x, 100x bigger than it is.”
However, in a March discussion, he characterized the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports as “deeply unfair,” indicating a distinction from the views held by many of his Democratic colleagues.
“I think it’s an issue of fairness. I completely agree with you on that,” Newsom commented during a podcast with conservative influencer Charlie Kirk.
Newsom’s office has yet to respond to Trump’s recent statements.
