It was a fiery exchange.
On Friday, President Donald Trump confronted Maine’s Democratic Governor Janet Mills during a National Governors Association session at the White House, criticizing her refusal to comply with his executive order banning men from competing in women’s sports. The order, titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” was issued on February 5, and Trump warned that Maine could lose federal funding if it did not comply.
During the meeting, Trump questioned Mills about her stance, asking, “Are you not going to comply with that?” Mills responded by asserting that she was following both state and federal laws. Trump countered by threatening to withhold federal funds, emphasizing that Maine’s population, despite being somewhat liberal, was opposed to men competing in women’s sports. Mills maintained her position, saying, “We’ll see you in court,” to which Trump responded, expressing confidence in the case and suggesting that Mills wouldn’t remain in politics for long.
The executive order asserts that the U.S. government will cut funding from educational programs that allow men to compete in women’s sports, claiming that such practices endanger women’s opportunities and violate their privacy. The order further states that male participation in women’s sports should be opposed on the grounds of safety, fairness, dignity, and truth.
Governor Mills, however, stood firm against Trump’s threat, stating that Maine would not be intimidated. She promised legal action to restore any potential lost funding, with Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey supporting her, arguing that Trump’s attempt to cut federal funding would violate court orders. Frey has previously challenged several of Trump’s executive orders.
Legal experts, such as Sarah Parshall Perry of the Heritage Foundation, argued that Maine’s resistance would not prevail in court. Perry noted that Maine had entered into an agreement with the Department of Education to follow federal civil rights laws, including Title IX, which she believes guarantees that biological women must be protected in women’s sports.
