During a February 21 meeting, Donald Trump confronted Maine Governor Janet Mills, demanding she comply with his executive order banning transgender women and girls from women’s sports or risk losing federal funding. When Mills responded, “I’m complying with state and federal laws,” Trump insisted, “We are federal law, you better do it.” Mills replied, “We’ll see you in court,” to which Trump shot back, “Good. I’ll look forward to that… Enjoy your life after, governor, because I don’t think you’ll be in elected politics.”

Before the meeting, Mills stated Maine “will not be intimidated” and vowed legal action if federal funding was cut. Attorney General Aaron Frey also called Trump’s threat illegal, pledging to defend Maine’s laws.

In response, the U.S. Department of Education launched an investigation into Maine’s policies, potentially jeopardizing $250 million in federal school funding. This clash underscores broader tensions between Democratic governors and the Trump administration over LGBTQ+ rights and federal authority.