Will President Trump Call Out Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz Over Male Athletes in Girls’ Sports?

(MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.) – As a transgender-identifying male athlete leads a Minnesota girls' softball team to the state championship, all eyes are on President Donald Trump to see whether he will publicly call out Governor Tim Walz — just as he has done with the governors of California and Maine.

Marissa Rothenberger, a male junior pitcher who identifies as a girl, has thrown back-to-back complete games this week, helping Champlin Park High School to secure a spot in the Class AAAA Minnesotastate title game. Rothenberger’s participation has sparked outrage from parents, athletes and legal advocates who say allowing male athletes in girls' sports is a clear violation of federal law.

And according to Trump's own administration, they're right.

Back in February, Trump signed an executive order banning males from competing in girls' and women's sports, citing Title IX protections for female athletes. The order made clear that any state failing to comply would risk losing federal funding.

Minnesota didn’t flinch.

The Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) announced that it would continue allowing student-athletes to compete in events consistent with their gender identity, regardless of biological sex. The league cited the Minnesota Human Rights Act and the state constitution as the basis for its policy. As a result, male athletes like Rothenberger are eligible to participate in girls' divisions at all levels of high school competition — including the state tournament.

The Champlin Park Rebels celebrate after punching their ticket to the Minnesota state championship game.

(Photo by Amber Harding)

The Department of Education quickly launched a Title IX investigation into MSHSL, as well as the California Interscholastic