A transgender athlete’s first-place finishes in the girls’ high and triple jump championship events on Saturday ignited a firestorm of debate, coinciding with President Donald Trump’s threats to cut federal funding to California over its policies on transgender athletes in women’s sports.
AB Hernandez, a junior at Jurupa Valley High School, secured victories in both events. However, the spotlight on her win was shared with a significant policy change from the event organizer, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF).
Just days before the competition, the CIF announced a new rule allowing any biological female who placed behind a transgender athlete to retain her original placement. Additionally, the policy permitted an extra biological female to compete in any event featuring Hernandez.
READ: Terrorism Charges Filed After Flamethrower Attack Injures 8 At Pro-Israel Event In Colorado
This policy adjustment arrived amidst escalating tensions, fueled by President Donald Trump’s strong stance against transgender athletes competing in female sports.
In a Truth Social post last week, Trump lambasted California, stating, “California, under the leadership of Radical Left Democrat Gavin Newscum, continues to ILLEGALLY allow ‘MEN TO PLAY IN WOMEN’S SPORTS.’ THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS.”
He further warned that “large-scale Federal Funding will be held back, maybe permanently, if the Executive Order on this subject matter is not adhered to,” and even called for local authorities to intervene if Hernandez was allowed to compete.
READ: Defense Secretary Hegseth Warns China: Taiwan Invasion “Not A Drill” On Trump’s Watch
Trump had previously signed an Executive Order on February 5, banning biological men from competing in women’s sports nationwide, declaring at the time, “The war on women’s sports is over.”
The contentious atmosphere surrounding Saturday’s events was also evident overhead, where a plane reportedly flew a banner reading “No Boys In Girls’ Sports” during the track-and-field championships.
The developments highlight the ongoing national debate over state-level policies in relation to federal directives and funding.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
