California expands track championship after Trump targets transgender athlete
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California's governing body for high school sports will invite additional cisgender students to participate in state track and field championships following backlash to a transgender athlete beating them.
The big picture: President Trump on Tuesday took aim at the Golden State over the matter, threatening to cut federal funding to California if it continues to allow transgender athletes to compete in women's sports.
- "THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
- He said he'll speak to California Gov. Gavin Newsom about the matter and ordered local authorities to stop a transgender athlete from competing in upcoming state finals.
- Trump made a similar threat against Maine but the state refused to bar transgender athletes from competing in women's sports.
Driving the news: Trump's comments Tuesday appear to refer to a transgender high school junior who won the girls' long jump and triple jump in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section Masters Meet.
- On Tuesday, CIF said in a statement that it will allow girls assigned female at birth who would have earned the next qualifying marks an opportunity to participate in this year's state track and field championships.
- At least three Southern California high schools sent a letter to the CIF earlier this month that opposed allowing trans athletes to compete in girls sports.
What they're saying: "The CIF values all of our student-athletes and we will continue to uphold our mission of providing students with the opportunity to belong, connect, and compete while complying with California law and Education Code," the federation said in a statement.
- Newson's spokesperson, Izzy Gardon, told Axios in an emailed statement that CIF's proposed solution "is a reasonable, respectful way to navigate a complex issue without compromising competitive fairness — a model worth pursuing." She added said the governor "is encouraged by this thoughtful approach."
Context: California law explicitly allows transgender students to participate in sports consistent with their gender identity.
- Trump earlier this year signed an executive order to bar transgender women and girls from competing in girls' and women's sports.
- The order denies federal funds for schools that allow trans women or girls to play in capacities corresponding with their gender identity, just one of the Trump administration's actions in an onslaught on gender and diversity.
- Schools that don't abide by the order will be considered in violation of Title IX, according to the order, which could jeopardize their access to federal funding.
Zoom out: Newsom, a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, turned heads when he said in March that transgender athletes competing in girls' and women's sports was "deeply unfair."
- The move broke with many Democrats on the issue of trans people in sports.
- He told reporters in April that he's open to discussion on the topic, saying it refers to "a very small number of athletes, and my responsibility is to address the pressing issues of our time." Newsom said at the time he believes the topic has become "weaponized by the right."
Go deeper: Newsom calls trans athletes in sports "unfair" in podcast with Charlie Kirk
