After their feud over deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles amid violent street protests against immigration raids, the Donald Trump administration and California are feuding again - this time over the state's violation of Title IX, a federal law.
Responding to the federal education department's allegation against the state of violating Title IX, the office of governor Gavin Newsom posted a GIF of education secretary Linda McMahon from her professional wrestling days.
McMahon is the wife of former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) owner Vince McMahon and made several appearances for the company, mostly as an authority figure. President Trump himself is a member of WWE's "hall of fame" and was involved in a "battle of the billionaires" against Vince McMahon on the promotion's programming in 2007.
The GIF posted by Newsom's press office showed Linda McMahon taking a move called the "tombstone piledriver" on a WWE show. The wrestler who performed the move was Kane, real name Glenn Jacobs - the current mayor of Knox County, Tennessee.
This came after McMahon warned California with "imminent action" for violating the federal law.
Education department vs California
On Wednesday, the Trump administration said it determined that California's education department and governing body for high school sports are defying Title IX, which bans sex discrimination in education.
The Republican-led federal government gave the Democratic state 10 days to reverse its policy, or face "imminent enforcement action."
“The Trump Administration will relentlessly enforce Title IX protections for women and girls, and our findings today make clear that California has failed to adhere to its obligations under federal law,” education secretary McMahon said in a statement.
Separately, she told Fox News that the department could withdraw federal funding if the state did not comply.
California, though, asserted it has "no plans" to change its policies.
"The California Department of Education believes all students should have the opportunity to learn and play at school, and we have consistently applied existing law in support of students’ rights to do so,” according to a statement by spokesperson Liz Sanders.
McMahon's announcement comes weeks after a trans student athlete, AB Hernandez, caught national attention over her participation in the California high school state track and field championship, where she won the girls high jump and triple jump, and came second in the long jump. However, the organizers awarded gold and silver medals to both Hernandez and other competitors who would have won medals had she not participated. It was the first time such a rule change was made.
In one of the earliest decisions of his second term, which began in January, President Donald Trump had signed an executive order to keep "men out of women's sports."
Responding to the federal education department's allegation against the state of violating Title IX, the office of governor Gavin Newsom posted a GIF of education secretary Linda McMahon from her professional wrestling days.
McMahon is the wife of former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) owner Vince McMahon and made several appearances for the company, mostly as an authority figure. President Trump himself is a member of WWE's "hall of fame" and was involved in a "battle of the billionaires" against Vince McMahon on the promotion's programming in 2007.
The GIF posted by Newsom's press office showed Linda McMahon taking a move called the "tombstone piledriver" on a WWE show. The wrestler who performed the move was Kane, real name Glenn Jacobs - the current mayor of Knox County, Tennessee.
Live look at Linda’s legal claims https://t.co/0dwc3kvaIe pic.twitter.com/eQkBVowNrN
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) June 25, 2025
This came after McMahon warned California with "imminent action" for violating the federal law.
Education department vs California
On Wednesday, the Trump administration said it determined that California's education department and governing body for high school sports are defying Title IX, which bans sex discrimination in education.
The Republican-led federal government gave the Democratic state 10 days to reverse its policy, or face "imminent enforcement action."
“The Trump Administration will relentlessly enforce Title IX protections for women and girls, and our findings today make clear that California has failed to adhere to its obligations under federal law,” education secretary McMahon said in a statement.
Separately, she told Fox News that the department could withdraw federal funding if the state did not comply.
California, though, asserted it has "no plans" to change its policies.
"The California Department of Education believes all students should have the opportunity to learn and play at school, and we have consistently applied existing law in support of students’ rights to do so,” according to a statement by spokesperson Liz Sanders.
McMahon's announcement comes weeks after a trans student athlete, AB Hernandez, caught national attention over her participation in the California high school state track and field championship, where she won the girls high jump and triple jump, and came second in the long jump. However, the organizers awarded gold and silver medals to both Hernandez and other competitors who would have won medals had she not participated. It was the first time such a rule change was made.
In one of the earliest decisions of his second term, which began in January, President Donald Trump had signed an executive order to keep "men out of women's sports."
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