President Donald Trump on Friday exchanged verbal blows with the Governor of Maine over Trump’s push to keep transgender women from competing in women’s sports.
Delivering remarks at a meeting of the National Governors Association, Trump called Janet Mills out after the group that oversees high school sports in Maine said it would defy Trump’s executive order barring female transgender athletes.
Trump asked Mills, a Democrat, “Are you not going to comply with [the order]?”
“I’m complying with state and federal law,” Mills responded.
In its decision to ignore Trump’s order, Maine’s athletic governing body had cited a state anti-discrimination law.
Trump, glaring into the audience from a podium, countered with a threat: “We are the federal law. You better do it, because you’re not gonna get any federal funding at all if you don’t.”
“By the way, your population, even though it’s somewhat liberal… doesn’t want men playing in women’s sports,” the president added, while the rest of the governors gathered in the room watched on.
“See you in court,” Mills fired back.
Trump told her the legal battle would be a “real easy one,” and added: “Enjoy your life after governor, because I don’t think you’ll be in elected politics.”
The fiery exchange, which was broadcast live on CSPAN, went viral on social media, drawing praise from the president’s critics.
“In a stunning moment of defiance, Maine’s Governor Janet Mills stands up to Trump, saying she is complying with state and federal (anti-discrimination) law, and will see him in court over his threat to withhold federal funds,” wrote the left-leaning political X account Really American. “This is incredible.”
Meanwhile, the anti-Trump PAC The Lincoln Project wrote, “This is how all our elected officials everywhere should be confronting Trump’s authoritarian ‘we are the law’ sentiment. Head on.”
The MAGA world had a different spin.
“Donald Trump exposes the Gov of Maine right to her face in front of everyone,” the account MAGA Voice posted to its 1 million followers.
“First Buddy” Elon Musk, meanwhile, reposted the clip alongside two fire emojis.
Earlier this month, the NCAA caved to Trump by barring transgender women from competing on teams that correspond to their gender.
