The president's statement was aimed at California Governor Gavin Newsom, criticizing the state for "illegally" allowing biological men to participate in women's sports competitions.

President Trump took to Truth Social to express his dissatisfaction with Governor Newsom's stance, suggesting he would discuss the matter directly with the governor. He also indicated that he might instruct local authorities to prevent transgender athletes from competing in state-level competitions.

The social media post appears to be a reaction to a recent event where a high school junior from California secured victories in the girls' long jump and triple jump at the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section Masters Meet. This incident has propelled California into the spotlight, following a similar dispute with Maine that also involved threats to withdraw federal education funding. That conflict, involving Maine Governor Janet Mills, is currently being contested in court.

Governor Newsom has previously voiced his opinion on this divisive issue, labeling it as "deeply unfair" for individuals born biologically male to compete in women's sports. While he hasn't responded directly to Trump's latest comments, he acknowledged in an April news conference the complexity of the issue and its political manipulation by conservatives. Newsom has expressed a willingness to engage in discussions aimed at finding a balanced and humane approach to the matter.

This is not the first time that Trump has threatened to pull federal funds from California, particularly targeting education dollars. In an April letter, a Trump-appointed official from the U.S. Department of Agriculture conditioned aid on the state's compliance with Trump administration directives, citing a federal investigation into a state law protecting transgender students.

California has also defied a Trump administration mandate to end all diversity, equity, and inclusion programs across its 1,000 school districts, a directive that was accompanied by threats to cut billions in federal education funding.

The scope of Trump's latest threats leaves some ambiguity about whether he intends to target education funding exclusively or other forms of federal support, such as disaster relief and aid for low-income housing. Despite consistently contributing more in federal tax revenue than it receives, California heavily relies on federal support, including education funding amounting to approximately $16.3 billion annually. This funding is vital for various programs, including school meals and support for students with disabilities. The state also benefits from over $2.1 billion in Title I grants aimed at alleviating poverty, with a significant portion directed to the Los Angeles Unified School District.

As the issue unfolds, it remains to be seen how both the Trump administration and California will navigate this complex and contentious topic.