White House calls out Newsom as California girls’ track and field controversy reignites

SPECIAL: President Donald Trump’s White House has officially notified California Governor Gavin Newsom of the controversial postseason start for girls’ track and field this weekend.

A White House spokesperson called out Newsom in a statement to Fox News Digital over his state’s continued decision to allow biological male transgender athletes to compete in girls’ high school sports.

White House spokeswoman Allison Schuster said, “Gavin Newscum is a truly sick individual with no respect for fairness, dignity, and respect. If he did, he would not allow men to compete in women’s sports, limiting women’s opportunities and jeopardizing their health and safety. President Trump is fighting for common-sense policies that elevate every athlete and restore fairness on the field.” he said.

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The White House’s statement was in response to an earlier statement from a source in Newsom’s office in response to news that a “Save Girls Sports” protest would take place at the track and field playoff meet site on Saturday.

A source from the governor’s office told Fox News Digital on Wednesday: “The governor said discussions on this issue must be guided by justice, dignity and respect. He rejects the cynical attempt by the right wing to weaponize this debate as an excuse to vilify individual children. The governor’s position is simple: stand up for all children and stand up to bullies.”

“California is one of 22 states with laws requiring students to be allowed to participate in sex-segregated school sports consistent with their gender identity. California passed this law in 2013 (AB 1266) and was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown.”

The Saturday protest, organized by former NCAA women’s soccer player Sophia Lorey, will take place at the California Interscholastic Southern Division, Division 3 prelims in Yorba Linda as Jurupa Valley High School’s transgender athlete prepares to compete after winning two finals last season.

Lorey led a similar protest in the same round of the tournament last year, drawing national attention to the state playoffs. Last year, Trump and Newsom fought as the same transgender athlete from Jurupa Valley advanced to the state finals; the president had sparked a Truth Social post ordering the state to prevent the athlete from competing.

What followed was a highly chaotic and nationally publicized state championship weekend in Clovis.

Last year’s girls’ track and field state finals in California descended into a chaotic and nationally publicized spectacle that included competing protests, the arrest of a pro-trans activist for allegedly assaulting a conservative activist, a flyby of a plane bearing a ‘Save Girls Sports’ banner, and even Lorey being ejected from the venue.

TRUMP EXECUTIVE SUES CALIFORNIA OVER TITLE IX VIOLATIONS

After Jurupa’s transgender athlete placed first in the triple jump and high jump and second in the long jump, the Trump Justice Department sued California state agencies last July for alleged Title IX violations.

Then in September, Newsom’s Secretary of Legal Affairs David Sapp sent an email to JUSD administrators with a copy of the state’s request to dismiss that case, as seen in public records obtained by Fox News Digital.

The email was forwarded by a district manager to others for discussion at a meeting on September 12. The exchange also appears to show school administrators recently discussing the issue with Sapp.

NEWSOM’S OFFICE REMOVES GOVERNOR FROM LAWSUIT AGAINST DOJ CALIFORNIA OVER TRANS ATHLETES IN CONtroversial POST

“You can report this to the team [JUSD administrator] I received this from David Sapp when I was discussing it with them at the Governor’s office on Monday and we are passing it along in case it is useful for our discussion today,” the email said.

Save Girls Sports activists rally outside the CIF council meeting in Long Beach, California, on February 6, 2026. (Sophia Lorey/Unknown)

Fox News Digital requested transcripts and transcripts of the Sept. 12 meeting referenced in the administrator’s email from JUSD. The school district responded by claiming it had no recordings from the meeting it could share.

“As discussed, please see the attachment for a copy of the motion to dismiss we filed Friday in the USDOJ’s Title IX case,” Sapp’s email wrote.

“The September 12 meeting I attended [JUSD administrator] It was an informal teleconference that included the District’s legal counsel, among other participants. There are only minutes left for the teleconference and [JUSD administrator] A JUSD administrator told Fox News Digital that he did not take notes or create any documentation.

“Any memos or documents prepared by district counsel were not shared with any other party and are therefore covered by the attorney-client business privilege and the attorney work-product doctrine.”

A source in Newsom’s office provided a background statement to Fox News Digital in January in response to an inquiry into disclosure about Sapp’s interaction with JUSD administrators.

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“On September 8, 2025, [JUSD] Inspector [Trenton] Hansen and Dave Sapp spoke about the USDOJ case involving Jurupa USD-related allegations mentioned in your email. Dave followed up to share a copy of the State’s Motion to Dismiss, which was filed a week ago and is otherwise publicly available. “Dave has not provided any direction or recommendations to the district regarding the situation of transgender athletes or related media interactions.”

The Trump administration cracked down on JUSD in January with a more targeted investigation. The U.S. Department of Education announced that JUSD, along with 17 other institutions, will be specifically investigated for potential Title IX violations.

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