During a meeting at the White House, Maine Governor Janet Mills defiantly confronted President Trump over his executive order banning transgender athletes from women’s sports. When Trump questioned her compliance, Mills asserted she would follow state and federal laws, prompting Trump to threaten withholding federal funding. Mills retorted, “See you in court,” to which Trump expressed eagerness for the legal battle. This moment of resistance highlighted the challenges Democrats face in opposing Trump’s authority. The standoff escalated with the U.S. Department of Education initiating an investigation into Maine’s Education Department regarding compliance with the executive order.
An unusual event took place at the White House on Friday afternoon that is rarely seen these days. Someone confronted President Trump. Right in front of him.
About an hour into a meeting with a bipartisan assembly of governors, he suddenly recalled that Maine’s leaders had been opposing an executive order he had implemented, which prohibits transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports.
“Is the governor of Maine present?” he inquired aloud. “Where is the governor of Maine?”
“I’m here,” Gov. Janet Mills responded from across the room.
Referring to the executive order, Mr. Trump asked, “Aren’t you going to comply with that?”
“I’m adhering to state and federal laws,” she replied, quite assertively.
Mr. Trump replied that “we are the federal law” and insisted that “you better do it,” warning her that funding for her state could be withheld. He emphasized that public sentiment was largely in his favor on this topic. (A recent poll conducted by The New York Times and Ipsos revealed that only 18 percent of Americans support allowing transgender female athletes—those assigned male at birth—to compete in women’s sports.) He cautioned once more: “You better comply, you better comply, because if not, you won’t receive any federal funding.”
“See you in court,” she retorted.
“Good,” he replied, sounding disgruntled. “I’ll see you in court. I’m looking forward to that. It should be an easy case.” After a pause, he added, “and enjoy your post-governor life because I doubt you’ll remain in politics.”
This brief exchange highlighted Ms. Mills’s defiance at a time when Democrats have struggled to effectively confront this president.
One month into his second term, Mr. Trump has referred to himself as a king, with the White House sharing an image of him wearing a crown, while Republican congressional leaders have willingly surrendered their authority to him.
The confrontation between the administration and Maine’s leaders intensified on Friday. Shortly after Ms. Mills’s interaction with the president, the U.S. Department of Education sent a letter to Maine’s education commissioner, Pender Makin, informing her of a “directed investigation” into the state’s Education Department. The letter specifically identified one school, noting reports that it had allowed “at least one male student to compete in girls’ categories.”
Hawaii’s Democratic governor, Josh Green, was also present at the White House meeting. “Several governors I spoke with expressed concern about that exchange,” he said afterward, “as it seemed a bit harsh — while not exactly yelling, it was unnecessary conflict.”
It was merely “a moment,” he added, “but she stood her ground against him.”
Reid J. Epstein contributed reporting.