President Donald Trump got into a brief spat with the governor of Maine during a speech at the White House, with the Democrat promising to “see you in court.”
During a lengthy speech to a bipartisan group of governors, Trump began touting his ban on transgender athletes in women’s sports before asking if Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME) was in attendance.
“Is Maine here? There governor of Maine?” Trump called out. “Are you not going to comply with it?”
After confirming her presence, Mills said flatly that she would “comply with state and federal law.”
Things escalated quickly from there.
“You better do it because you’re not going to get any federal funding,” Trump shot back. “By the way, your population may be somewhat liberal — although I did very well there — your population doesn’t want men playing in women’s sports.”
“We’re going to follow the law,” Mills repeated. “See you in court.”
Trump, refusing to give Mills the final word, continued on.
“I look forward to that, that should be a real easy one,” he said. “And enjoy your life after governor because I don’t think you’ll be an elected official afterward.”
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.”
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Now, it appears that legal action may be more likely.
Trump won 45% of the vote in Maine last fall, but he lost the state to former Vice President Kamala Harris. Mills is in her second term as Maine governor and cannot seek a third term under state law.