“Is Maine here, the governor of Maine?” he asked.
“I’m here,” Mills responded.
Trump wasted no time. “Are you not going to comply with it?” he pressed, referring to his recent executive order barring transgender women (those who were assigned male at birth) from competing in girls’ and women’s sports.
Mills said, “I’m complying with state and federal laws.”
Trump wasn’t satisfied. “We are the federal law,” he said, warning that Maine could lose federal education funding if it didn’t follow his administration’s rules.
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That’s when Mills hit him with a strong reply: “We’ll see you in court.”
Trump grinned. “Good, I’ll see you in court. That should be a really easy one. And enjoy your life after governor, because I don’t think you’ll be in elected politics.”
At the White House governors event, there was a tense exchange between Pres. Trump and Maine’s Democratic Gov. Janet Mills. The back-and-forth came as Trump discussed his executive order banning transgender athletes from women’s sports. https://t.co/mWpGMOh9qH pic.twitter.com/XCongJwdVS
— ABC News (@ABC) February 21, 2025
The fight over transgender athletes in women’s sports has been heating up across the country for years. In 2020, Idaho became the first state to ban transgender girls from competing in girls’ sports. The law, called the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, was quickly challenged in court. A federal judge blocked the law temporarily, and the case is still being fought.
Other states, like Texas and Florida, have passed similar laws. In contrast, California and New York have gone in the opposite direction, allowing transgender athletes to compete in the category that matches their gender identity.
But what really does the law say? Title IX, a federal law passed in 1972, prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs, including sports. The Trump administration has interpreted this to mean that only biological females should compete in women’s sports. But courts have been divided on the issue.
The Biden administration, which came after Trump, took a different approach and argued that Title IX also protects transgender students. This back-and-forth has left schools, coaches, and athletes confused about what rules to follow.
The Maine Principals’ Association, which oversees high school sports, has said it will continue to allow transgender athletes to compete. The group follows Maine’s Human Rights Act, which bans discrimination based on gender identity. Mike Burnham, the association’s executive director, has been clear about their stance: “The executive order and our Maine state Human Rights Act are in conflict, and the Maine Principal’s Association will continue to follow state law as it pertains to gender identity.”
The problem? Trump’s administration believes that Maine is violating federal law. That’s why the U.S. Department of Education has announced an investigation into the state’s policies.
Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey has already said he’s ready for battle. “Fortunately,” Frey wrote in a statement, “the rule of law still applies in this country, and I will do everything in my power to defend Maine’s laws and block efforts by the president to bully and threaten us.”
And Mills? She’s not backing down either. “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.”
So, where does that leave things?
If history tells us anything, this fight is far from over. Similar battles in other states have dragged on for years. Some have ended in courts, and others have resulted in policy reversals when new presidents take office.
Mills, meanwhile, is standing her ground, fighting for what she believes is right.
Featured image via Screengrab
