At an event in the White House with a top -notch group of governors on Friday, President Donald Trump sparred briefly with Democratic Maine Governor Janet Mills after threatening to detain federal funds from her state on the issue of trans -transking athletes.
Back and forth came when Trump discussed his executive order that banned transnry athletes from women’s sports.
“Don’t you want to comply with it?” Trump asked Mills directly.
Government Janet Mills responds after challenging US President Donald Trump over federal law on the issue of trans women in sports when Trump treated a meeting with Governors in the White House, February 21, 2025 in Washington.
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She replied that she would comply with state and federal laws.
“Well I am – we are the federal law,” Trump said, adding, “Yes, you have to do it. You have to do better because you don’t get any federal funding at all if you don’t.”
Mills replied, “See you in court.”
“Good,” Trump replied. “I’m seeing in court. I look forward to it. It should be easy. And enjoy your life after governor because I don’t think you want to be in chosen politics,” Trump said.
After Friday’s collection in the White House, Mills released a statement about Trump’s threat to withhold federal funding.
President Donald Trump speaks on the Governor’s Work Session in the White House in Washington, February 21, 2025.
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“If the president tries to unilaterally deprive Maine School Children in favor of federal funding, my administration and the lawyer will take all appropriate and necessary litigation to restore the funding and academic opportunity it provides. The state Maine will not be intimidated by the president’s threats. “
Also on Friday, the Department of Education sent a letter to an official in Maine Education who announced a “corrected investigation” by the Maine Department of Education “in the midst of accusations that it continues to allow male athletes to compete in girls’ interscholastic athletics , “the department said in a news message.
The department quoted a Maine High School, as it said, is “continued to allow at least one male student the opportunity to compete in girls’ categories.”
Trump signed the order “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” earlier this month, which instructs federal agencies to interpret federal title IX rules as a ban on the participation of transking girls and women in female sports categories.
