Donald Trump threatened Maine Governor Janet Mills during a meeting at the White House on February 21, insisting she comply with his executive order banning transgender women and girls from competing in women’s sports. He warned that if she did not comply, Maine would lose federal funding, to which Mills responded that she was abiding by both state and federal laws.

Trump then stated, “You better do it, because you’re not going to get federal funding.” Mills and Maine’s Attorney General vowed to challenge the move in court, calling Trump’s threats illegal and contrary to federal court orders.

They emphasized the importance of following Maine’s laws, including protecting gender identity rights. The confrontation follows a federal investigation into potential violations of Title IX by Maine’s policies regarding transgender athletes.

Mills underscored that this issue transcends sports, addressing whether a president can bypass the rule of law to impose his will.