Donald Trump threatened the Democratic governor of Maine to her face during a meeting with governors at the White House on Friday (21 February).
The President of the United States, 78, told Maine Governor Janet Mills that she must comply with his executive order which bans transgender women and girls from women’s sport.
He said that if she doesn’t, she will risk losing federal funding.
“I’m complying with state and federal laws,” the 77-year-old responded.
That’s when the American businessman threatened: “We are federal law, you better do it.
“You better do it, because you’re not going to get federal funding… Your population doesn’t want men in women’s sports.”
“We’ll see you in court,” Mills replied.
Donald Trump threatened the Democratic governor of Maine (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
“Good. I’ll see you in court. I’ll look forward to that. That should be a real easy one,” Trump said.
“And enjoy your life after, governor, because I don’t think you’ll be in elected politics.”
Prior to the meeting, Mills said Maine ‘will not be intimidated by the president’s threats.’
“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,” Mills said.
Meanwhile, Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey said that Trump’s attempt to cut federal funding ‘would be illegal and in direct violation of federal court orders’.
Maine Governor Janet Mills challenged President Trump over trans women in sports (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
“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.
This comes after acting Education Secretary for civil rights Craig Trainor said Maine is being investigated for alleged Title IX violations, which are actions that discriminate against people based on their sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
“Maine would have you believe that it has no choice in how it treats women and girls in athletics — that is, that it must follow its state laws and allow male athletes to compete against women and girls,” Trainor said in a statement.
