Update May 28, 2025, 9:30 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional reporting about the CIF policy change.
Trans track athlete AB Hernandez made headlines earlier this month when he dominated the long jump and triple jump competitions over his female competitors at California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section Finals in California.
Last week, Megyn praised Reese Hogan – who finished second to Hernandez in the triple jump despite setting a new personal record for herself and her school at 37 feet, 2 inches – for her “moving” decision to briefly take her rightful place atop the podium after the medal ceremony wrapped.
Megyn offered an impassioned plea for politicians like California Gov. Gavin Newsom to stand up and do right by female athletes like Hogan both on The Megyn Kelly and on X, which have so far fallen on deaf ears. But the situation has gotten the attention of President Donald Trump.
On Tuesday’s show, Megyn was joined by Batya Ungar-Saron, author of Second Class, to discuss Trump’s reaction to Hernandez’s victories and why the left continues to lose on this issue.
[Editor’s Note: You can learn more about Megyn’s position on preferred pronouns here.]
Trump’s Threat
Trump is now threatening to cut off federal funding for California if the state continues to allow biological males to compete in women’s sports in defiance of his executive order. The president called out Newsom, whom he calls “Newscum,” in a Truth Social post Tuesday about Hernandez’s recent victories.
“California, under the leadership of Radical Left Democrat Gavin Newscum, continues to ILLEGALLY allow ‘MEN TO PLAY IN WOMEN’S SPORTS,'” he wrote. “This week a transitioned Male athlete, at a major event, won “everything,” and is now qualified to compete in the “State Finals” next weekend. As a Male, he was a less than average competitor. As a Female, this transitioned person is practically unbeatable. THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS.”
The president said he will speak to Newsom about the issue – which he told Charlie Kirk on the inaugural episode of his podcast is “unfair” to women – but he made it clear that punishment is on the table.
“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,” he continued. “In the meantime, I am ordering local authorities, if necessary, to not allow the transitioned person to compete in the State Finals. This is a totally ridiculous situation!!!”
CIF Policy Change
While Hernandez has lost some events this season, he mostly dominated his female competition. As reported on Wednesday’s AM Update, his wins have been a major source of contention in the community. One furious mother confronted Hernandez’s mother at a meet in March, and spectators have erupted with vocal support for female athletes at different competitions throughout the season to make their stance clear from the sidelines.
In an apparent effort to appease angry parents and maybe even Trump, CIF announced a new “pilot entry process” late Tuesday to allow “any biological female student-athlete who would have earned the next qualifying mark for one of their Section’s automatic qualifying entries in the CIF State meet, and did not achieve the CIF State at-large mark in the finals at their Section meet, was extended an opportunity to participate in the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships.”
CIF claimed the decision to change the policy was made over the weekend (i.e. before the president’s post), but it does not address the underlying issue. The female athletes who placed second and third behind Hernandez will once again have to compete against him this weekend because transgender athletes are still allowed to compete and medal in the tournament.
The 80/20 Issue
Megyn said this latest outrage over a biological male decimating female opponents is a “reemerging chapter in what is becoming a very old story,” but Trump is not letting it die on the vine. Instead, she said the president “is so fearless in this battle” that he “took up the mantle” and “got out there with his bazooka” to remind governors and voters alike that he solved this problem.
Ungar-Sargon said it has been remarkable to watch Trump’s commitment to this issue. “I can’t remember the last time a president felt this strongly about anything – forget about the things I care about,” she said. “Donald Trump has a theory of the case: How to protect and defend this country, the values that it was founded on… [and] everybody who is being impacted by the trans insanity.”
On the other hand, leftists like Newsom seem to be prioritizing woke sentiment over the concerns of their constituents. “We know that trans athletes in women’s sports is unbelievably unpopular. It is not even an 80/20 issue. I believe the latest numbers are 86 percent of Americans oppose trans athletes in women’s sports,” she added. “So, how do we end up with an entire political party devoted to protecting that?”
You can check out Megyn’s full interview with Ungar-Sargon by tuning in to episode 1,081 on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you like to listen. And don’t forget that you can catch The Megyn Kelly Show live on SiriusXM’s Triumph (channel 111) weekdays from 12pm to 2pm ET.