President Donald Trump and Maine Governor Janet Mills clashed at the White House on Friday in a brief but heated exchange over transgender athletes in women’s sports.
The confrontation stemmed from Trump’s recent executive order, “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” which bans transgender women from competing in female-designated sporting events and threatens to cut federal funding for schools that refuse to comply. Mills pushed back, but Trump made it clear—there would be consequences for defiance.
The clash erupted during Trump’s speech to a bipartisan group of governors when he brought up his ban on transgender athletes in women’s sports and called out Maine’s governor directly.
“Is Maine here? The governor of Maine?” Trump asked before pointedly adding, “Are you not going to comply with it?”
Mills, a Democrat, confirmed she was in attendance and responded curtly, “We will comply with state and federal law.”
Trump didn’t back down. “You better do it because you’re not going to get any federal funding,” he warned, turning up the heat. “By the way, your population may be somewhat liberal—although I did very well there—but your population doesn’t want men playing in women’s sports.”
Mills stood her ground. “We’re going to follow the law,” she said. “See you in court.”
Trump wasn’t about to let her have the last word.
“I look forward to that. That should be a real easy one,” he fired back. “And enjoy your life after governor, because I don’t think you’ll be in elected politics.”
🔥 President Trump calls Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) out to her face over her refusal to comply with the executive order keeping men out of women's sports:
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 21, 2025
"You better do it — because you're not going to get any federal funding at all if you don't." pic.twitter.com/uMUZsy1j6t
The Washington Examiner has additional details:
A handful of states have refused to follow Trump’s executive order, which his administration said bans men from playing women’s sports. Maine is one of them, with the Maine Principal’s Association saying transgender athletes can still compete.
Trump’s order seeks to force compliance by withholding federal funds under Title IX, which bans sex discrimination.
Mills, 77, previously said she would not give into Trump’s “threat,” which is likely why Trump asked if she was in the room.
“If the president attempts to unilaterally deprive Maine school children of the benefit of federal funding, my administration and the attorney general will take all appropriate and necessary legal action to restore that funding and the academic opportunity it provides,” Mills said. “The State of Maine will not be intimidated by the president’s threats.”
The Maine Principals’ Association (MPA), which oversees high school sports in the state, has stated it will continue to follow the Maine Human Rights Act, allowing transgender athletes to compete in accordance with their gender identity. This position directly conflicts with the recent federal mandate.
In the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Maine continued its tradition of splitting its electoral votes. Former Vice President Kamala Harris secured the statewide vote and won in the 1st Congressional District, earning three of Maine’s four electoral votes. President Donald Trump won the 2nd Congressional District, obtaining the remaining electoral vote.
In terms of the popular vote, Harris received 52.4% of the votes statewide, while Trump garnered 45.5%.
With both sides digging in, a legal showdown with the Pine Tree State now seems all but inevitable.
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Thank you Governor of Maine for standing up
Don’t mess with President Trump Governor Mills. Anyone who thinks men competing in women’s sports is fair, needs a wake-up call. What happened to Women’s rights that Democrats held dear not too long ago? WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS???
If Maine wants to thrust transgender men into girls sports, and IF the girls threaten to bow out of enough games too make their point heard, they will change their minds about transgenders. Now remember, Maine is a liberal state, so anything can happen. It’s up to the girls now whether or not they want a trans on their team, and stand their ground on that decision.
Most of these Governors must be parents. If they have a female child or grandchild and that child is in sports, are these elected officials really ok with men competing as females. Or are they? And they are okay with men undressing and women undressing in the same locker room? As a woman, I find this appalling. None of this makes sense. Are females representing themselves as men competing in men’s sports? I haven’t heard about it, if they have.
It seems to me that big money is involved. The Global Open Society. These government officials must be receiving bribes-directly or indirectly to push this issue to the EXTREMES. Money laundering, cash payments, expensive trips or luxury items. I would suspect that deep investigation could bring more forward. We saw this recently with Senator Bob Menendez (NJ), who was found guilty of bribery and corruption. We really need to know how and why this issue is hovering over America.
She was so ignorant!! I hope for Maine’s sake she will not be re-elected. I believe she won’t be if the election is not fraudulant as usual.