President Trump and Maine Governor Janet Mills sparred face-to-face over his executive order banning biological males from competing in women’s sports.
During a meeting Friday between Mr. Trump and a bipartisan group of governors at the White House, Mr. Trump warned Ms. Mills, a Democrat, that he would withhold federal funding unless she complied with the executive order.
“You better do it because you’re not going to get federal funding,” Mr. Trump said.
“We’re going to follow the law, sir. We’ll see you in court,” Ms. Mills responded.
“Enjoy your life after governor because I don’t think you’ll be an elected official afterwards,” the president fired back.
The day before their confrontation, Mr. Trump called out Maine’s policy at a dinner of the Republican Governors’ Association in Washington.
“I heard men are still playing in Maine. Is anyone here from Maine?” asked Mr. Trump. “I hate to tell you this, but we’re not going to give them any federal money. They are still saying we want men to play in women’s sports and I cannot believe that they’re doing that. We’re not going to give them any federal funding – none whatsoever – until they clean that up.”
Under the executive order signed Feb. 5 titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” the White House will rescind federal funds from “educational programs” if schools fail to adhere to the ban.
Maine has refused to enforce the executive order and is continuing to allow transgender athletes to participate in female sports, saying their decision is in accordance with the Maine Human Rights Act. The state law prohibits discrimination based on gender identity among other protected classes.
Ms. Mills said earlier Friday that her state “will not be intimidated by the president’s threats.”
“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 in a statement.
Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey said that any effort by Mr. Trump to cut federal funding over gender issues “would be illegal and in direct violation of federal court orders.”
Mr. Frey, also a Democrat, said it was “disturbing that President Trump would use children as pawns in advancing his political agenda.”
“Any attempt by the President to cut federal funding in Maine unless transgender athletes are restricted from playing sports would be illegal and in direct violation of federal court orders,” Mr. Frey said. “Fortunately, though, the rule of law still applies in this country, and I will do everything in my power to defend Maine’s laws and block efforts by the President to bully and threaten us.”
On the other side was Republican state Rep. Laurel Libby, who thanked Mr. Trump for his stance.
“Thank you, President Trump, for protecting girls’ sports in Maine and cleaning up the failures by both the Maine Principals’ Association and the Maine Democrat Majority who have refused to do so,” said Ms. Libby on Facebook. “It’s common sense; biological males should have no place in girls’ sports. With $280M+ per year on the line this shouldn’t be a hard choice for Maine Democrats.”
The issue isn’t hypothetical in Maine. Outrage erupted in recent days after a male-born athlete who identifies as female won the state Class B girls’ pole-vaulting championship.
The student surpassed the second-place finisher’s mark by six inches, helping Greely High School in Cumberland Center capture the girls’ state track-and-field championship.
“This is outrageous, and unfair to the many female athletes who work every day to succeed in their respective sports,” said Ms. Libby.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.