Maine Gov. Janet Mills clashed with Trump over transgender rights during a White House meeting.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills speaks to President Donald Trump as Trump delivered remarks during a governors working session in the State Dining Room at the White House, on Feb. 21, 2025. | Francis Chung/POLITICO
The Democratic governor of Maine warned President Donald Trump in the White House state dining room that she’ll go to court to fight his actions to restrict transgender athletes’ participation in school sports.
Governors of both parties gathered at the White House Friday to hear from Trump as part of an annual meeting of state leaders. About an hour into his remarks, Trump turned to his executive order that keeps transgender athletes from participating on sports teams that align with their gender identity, noting that “the NCAA has complied immediately.” (The order requires that athletes play on teams that align with the sex they were assigned at birth.)
Trump turned to Maine Gov. Janet Mills, asking her if she was going to comply with his executive order.
“I’m going to comply with state and federal law,” Mills said to the president.
Trump responded that she “better do it because you’re not going to get any federal funding” otherwise. He added that her “population doesn’t want men playing in women’s sports.”
“We’re going to follow the law, sir,” Mills said before throwing back, she would “see you in court.”
The back and forth underscores not just the tensions on the issue of transgender athletes but also how governors are still trying to navigate a new administration that’s willing to withhold federal funds on issues it wants to push.
Mills doubled down on her threat in a statement afterward.
“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,” she said. “The State of Maine will not be intimidated by the President’s threats.”
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