President Trump has threatened to strip federal funding from California if it doesn’t comply with the administration’s ban on transgender athletes in women’s sports.

The warning followed a transgender athlete’s first-place finish Saturday in the girls’ long jump and triple jump at the California Interscholastic Federation Track Championships Masters Qualifiers.

Mr. Trump said he will speak Tuesday with California Gov. Gavin Newsom “to find out which way he wants to go.”

“California, under the leadership of Radical Left Democrat Gavin Newscum, continues to ILLEGALLY allow ’MEN TO PLAY IN WOMEN’S SPORTS,’” Mr. Trump wrote Tuesday on social media.

“As a Male, he was a less than average competitor. As a Female, this transitioned person is practically unbeatable,” he said, continuing in all caps. “This is not fair, and totally demeaning to women and girls.”

Mr. Trump said that “large scale Federal Funding will be held back, maybe permanently,” if the order he signed in February banning transgender athletes from women’s sports is not followed.

“The Governor, himself, said it is ’UNFAIR,’” Mr. Trump said.

The president also said he is directing local law enforcement to stop the transgender athlete from competing in the state finals.

The state finals in California are set to take place next week.

Mr. Newsom, a Democrat who is eyeing a 2028 presidential run, has recently distanced himself from his party on the transgender sports issue.

In March, he said during the inaugural episode of his podcast, “This is Gavin Newsom,” that it is “deeply unfair” that those born male compete in women’s sports.

“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,” Mr. Newsom said while talking with Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk on the podcast. “I am not wrestling with the fairness issue. I totally agree with you.”

• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.