How can you disobey the president’s direct order and then ask for money? Insane.
Governor Janet Mills of Maine is using her recent confrontation with former President Donald Trump to garner political attention and fuel her fundraising efforts. The dispute began last week when Trump criticized Maine’s defiance of his executive order, which sought to prevent biological males who identify as transgender from participating in women’s sports.
The conflict came to a head during a meeting at the White House on Friday, after Trump publicly threatened to withhold federal funding from Maine unless the state followed through on his directive regarding transgender athletes. Mills fired back, stating, “We’re going to follow the law, sir. We’ll see you in court.” Trump responded with a sharp warning: “Enjoy your life after governor, because I don’t think you’ll be an elected official afterward.”
After this heated exchange, Mills began sending mass fundraising texts to Maine residents, capitalizing on the national attention she had just received. The messages referenced her confrontation with Trump, portraying her as a defender of Maine’s sovereignty against presidential overreach. Mills’ campaign messages accused Trump of using his power to “punish his enemies” and said that the state would not be intimidated by his threats.
The timing of the spat was noteworthy, as a transgender woman who had previously competed as a male won first place in the women’s pole vault event at Maine’s Class B state indoor championship, further highlighting the issue of transgender athletes in women’s sports. The Maine Principal’s Association, which oversees high school athletics, affirmed that they would not follow Trump’s executive order, opting instead to adhere to state law, which prohibits determining athletic eligibility based on gender identity.
Legal experts, such as civil rights attorney Sarah Perry, argue that Maine’s defiance of Trump’s order could lead to consequences, including the loss of federal funding and potential Title IX investigations. Despite these risks, Governor Mills remains resolute in her stance, pushing back against both the Trump administration and federal overreach. For Mills, this clash is more than just a political dispute—it’s a way to galvanize her base and fundraise for future battles over state rights and individual liberties.