In a rant posted Tuesday to his Fact Social account, President Donald Trump threatened to withhold federal funds from California if the state continues to permit transgender athletes to take part in occasions. Trump’s demand got here after California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, expressed issues about transgender folks being allowed to freely compete.
“California, under the leadership of Radical Left Democrat Gavin Newscum, continues to ILLEGALLY allow ‘MEN TO PLAY IN WOMEN’S SPORTS,’” Trump wrote. “Please be hereby advised that large scale Federal Funding will be held back, maybe permanently, if the Executive Order on this subject matter is not adhered to. The Governor, himself, said it is ‘UNFAIR.’”
Trump’s feedback have been apparently concentrating on a baby, a highschool junior who competed within the lengthy bounce and triple bounce in a highschool meet.
The Trump administration has repeatedly focused transgender Individuals, significantly kids, in an try to bar transgender folks from equal participation in American life. This has taken the type of withholding funds to push for transgender exclusion from faculty sports activities, as effectively as a ban on transgender navy service. Trump campaigned within the 2024 election on a bigoted platform of opposing transgender equality and exclusion.
In March, the bigotry of the Republican Social gathering and the conservative motion received an sudden enhance from Newsom. In an interview with conservative activist Charlie Kirk on his podcast “This is Gavin Newsom,” Newsom argued in opposition to transgender inclusion in girls’s sports activities.
“Well, I think it’s an issue of fairness. I completely agree with you on that. It is an issue of fairness; it’s deeply unfair,” Newsom mentioned.
Newsom obtained backlash for his feedback concentrating on a weak group. The Human Rights Marketing campaign, America’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights group launched an announcement that mentioned, “The path to 2028 isn’t paved with the betrayal of vulnerable communities.”
Newsom has been thought-about a possible Democratic presidential candidate within the subsequent election.
Trump’s new risk underscores the truth that Newsom’s stance didn’t endear him to folks on the precise who oppose trans equality. Trump’s assertion clearly positions Newsom on the opposite aspect of the difficulty.
Associated |Newsom shifts proper once more—and betrays undocumented Californians
It hasn’t simply been transgender rights the place Newsom has drifted proper. He additionally not too long ago pushed for undocumented immigrants to be faraway from the state’s free medical health insurance program, despite the fact that he as soon as touted free well being look after all California residents no matter immigration standing as a private achievement. Whereas he has framed it as a fiscal necessity, it’s gutting his progressive coverage.
Different potential 2028 Democratic candidates have seen their stature develop with out following Newsom’s right-leaning playbook.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has brazenly supported transgender inclusion t whereas criticizing Trump on a bunch of points. And whereas Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer received some criticism for assembly with the Trump administration, she has not publicly supported the precise’s bigoted cultural agenda, and her approval scores have elevated.
Democrats at each the state and federal degree are nonetheless grappling with how to answer Trump and his help inside the Republican Social gathering. However it appears clear that backing the precise on the subject of rolling again human rights is a shedding proposition.
