Trump’s public clash with the Maine’s governor over trans athlete order has been all over the social media.
The heated debate took place on Friday, during a meeting with the governors at the White House when President Donald Trump demanded that the Maine’s governor, Janet Mills, comply with the executive order he had signed about keeping transgender women out of female sports.
Trump told Mills that if she doesn’t, she will risk losing federal fundings.
“Are you not going to comply with it?” Trump asked the 75th governor of Maine.
“I’m complying with state and federal laws,” the 77-year-old responded.
“We are federal law, you better do it,” Trump countered with a threat.
“You better do it, because you’re not going to get federal funding… Your population doesn’t want men in women’s sports.”
Mills fired back, saying, “We’ll see you in court.”
“Good. I’ll see you in court. I’ll look forward to that. That should be a real easy one.” Trump said. “And enjoy your life after, governor, because I don’t think you’ll be in elected politics.”
“You better do it, because you’re not going to get federal funding… Your population doesn’t want men in women’s sports.”
Mills fired back, saying, “We’ll see you in court.”
“Good. I’ll see you in court. I’ll look forward to that. That should be a real easy one.” Trump said. “And enjoy your life after, governor, because I don’t think you’ll be in elected politics.”
Those who came to Mills’ defence, praised her for standing true to her beliefs and respecting the law. “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,”wrotethe left-leaning political X account Really American. “This is incredible.”
TheLincoln Project, an anti-Tramp PAC,wrote, “This is how all our elected officials everywhere should be confronting Trump’s authoritarian ‘we are the law’ sentiment. Head on.”
“Donald Trump exposes the Gov of Maine right to her face in front of everyone,” the account MAGA Voiceposted.
The rest of the governors in attendance gave an insight of the atmosphere and what led to the confrontation.
“It was a little uncomfortable in the room. But, like Governor Polis said, I wasn’t sure exactly what the backstory was behind the conflict there,” Kevin Stitt, the governor of Oklahoma, toldMail Online.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis suggested the discussion was not effective in encouraging productive exchange between NGA members. “We always hope that people can disagree in a way that elevates the discourse and tries to come to a common solution.” he said.
In a statement, Mills said (viaThe Independent): “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.”
Speaking to some Republican governors, Trumpsaid, “I heard men are still playing in Maine.
“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… So we’re not going to give them any federal funding, none whatsoever, until they clean that up,” he added.
