‘See You in Court’: Maine Governor Clashes With Trump Over Trans Rights
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Government launches investigation into Maine hours after Democratic governor stood up to Trump’s ‘bullying’
Within hours of Maine Gov. Janet Mills publicly confronting President Donald Trump at the White House after he tried to bully her into complying with his administration’s ban on transgender athletes in women’s sports, the U.S. Department of Education, which Trump has vowed to eliminate, launched a federal investigation into the state’s compliance with Title IX.
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On Friday afternoon, the department’s Office for Civil Rights notified Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin that it had opened an investigation into the Maine Department of Education and Maine School Administrative District #51. The probe focuses on the state’s policies allowing transgender students to compete in school sports, which OCR claims may violate Title IX protections for women’s sports, according to a department press release.
Related: Maine Gov. Janet Mills confronts Donald Trump to his face over anti-trans sports order at White House
The move came after Mills stood up to Trump at the National Governors Association meeting Friday morning. Trump, singling out Mills during a televised press event, demanded that Maine comply with his executive order barring transgender athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s sports or risk losing federal funding.
“I’m complying with state and federal laws,” Mills responded.
Trump then said, “Well—I’m—we are the federal law. You better do it because otherwise, you’re not going to get any federal funding at all if you don’t.”
Mills, unfazed, replied: “We’ll see you in court.”
Hours later, the governor’s office issued a press release in response to the newly announced investigation. Mills denounced the probe as political retaliation, warning that Trump is using federal power to punish states that refuse to comply with his agenda.
“No President—Republican or Democrat—can withhold federal funding authorized and appropriated by Congress and paid for by Maine taxpayers in an attempt to coerce someone into compliance with his will,” Mills said. “It is a violation of our Constitution and of our laws, which I took an oath to uphold.”
Related: Donald Trump bans transgender athletes from playing sports
She warned that Maine is only the first target.
“Who and what will he target next? Will it be you? Will it be because of your race or your religion? Will it be because you look different or think differently? Where does it end?” Mills asked.
She added, “In America, the President is neither a King nor a dictator, as much as this one tries to act like it – and it is the rule of law that prevents him from being so.”
LGBTQ+ advocates condemned the administration’s actions.
GLSEN executive director Melanie Willingham-Jaggers accused the Trump administration of using federal agencies to intimidate states that support transgender inclusion.
“One month into his administration, Donald Trump has started to weaponize government against schools, states, and students,” Willingham-Jaggers told The Advocate in a statement. “Transgender students have rights, with federal courts repeatedly finding that exclusion of student-athletes violates the law. Trump’s attempt to intimidate state leaders does not change that, and federal funds should not be used as a bargaining chip to weaken civil rights protections.”
Willingham-Jaggers praised Mills “for standing up to this inappropriate pressure and standing with the law.”
The Human Rights Campaign also applauded the governor for her actions and expressed solidarity.
“Gov. Mills is standing up for all Maine students. HRC stands with Gov. Mills,” HRC spokesperson Sam Lau told The Advocate.
Earlier in the day, Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey vowed to fight any potential investigation in court, calling it an “illegal and politically motivated attempt” to force the state into discrimination.
“Fortunately, 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,” Frey said.
The White House and the U.S. Department of Education did not respond to The Advocate’s request for comment.
Editor’s note: This story was updated with additional reporting.
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Trump clashes with Democratic governor at White House event: ‘See you in court’
At a White House event with a bipartisan group of governors Friday, President Donald Trump briefly sparred with Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills.
WASHINGTON — At a White House event with a bipartisan group of governors Friday, President Donald Trump briefly sparred with Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills after threatening to withhold federal funds from her state over the issue of transgender athletes.
The back-and-forth came as Trump discussed his executive order banning transgender athletes from women’s sports.
“Are you not going to comply with that?” Trump asked Mills directly.
She responded that she would comply with state and federal laws.
“Well, I’m — we are the federal law,” Trump said, adding, “Well, you better do it. You better do it because you’re not going to get any federal funding at all if you don’t.”
Mills responded: “See you in court.”
“Good,” Trump replied. “I’ll see you in court. I look forward to that. That should be an easy one. And enjoy your life after governor, because I don’t think you’ll be in elected politics,” Trump said.
READ MORE | NCAA changes transgender policy to limit women’s competition to athletes assigned female at birth
After Friday’s White House gathering, Mills released a statement about Trump’s threat to withhold federal funding.
“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. The State of Maine will not be intimidated by the President’s threats.”
Also on Friday, the Department of Education sent a letter to a Maine education official announcing a “directed investigation” of the Maine Department of Education “amid allegations that it continues to allow male athletes to compete in girls’ interscholastic athletics,” the department said in a news release.
The department cited a Maine high school which it said is “continuing to allow at least one male student to compete in girls’ categories.”
Trump signed the “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” order earlier this month, which directs federal agencies to interpret federal Title IX rules as prohibiting the participation of transgender girls and women in female sports categories.
SEE ALSO | Federal judge pauses President Trump’s order restricting gender-affirming care for trans youth
