US President Donald Trump and Maine Governor Janet Mills engaged in a heated exchange over transgender rights, specifically regarding Trump’s executive order banning transgender athletes from women’s sports.
The order allows US government agencies to deny funds to schools that allow transgender athletes to compete on women’s teams.
During a televised remarks session at the White House, Trump asked Mills if she would comply with the order, to which she responded that she would comply with state and federal laws. Trump then threatened to withhold federal funding, prompting Mills to say, “See you in court.
“The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has launched an investigation into Maine’s education department for alleged violations of Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender in educational facilities that receive federal support.
Mills has called the investigation a “politically directed move” to strip funding paid for by Maine taxpayers. The governor and the state’s attorney general have vowed to fight any move to deny the state federal funds.
Trump’s administration has been criticized for its stance on LGBTQ+ rights, with many arguing that the president’s policies are discriminatory and harmful to transgender individuals. The American Civil Liberties Union has accused Trump of “erasing LGBTQ freedoms” through his policies.
The debate over transgender rights has become increasingly polarized, with Republicans and Democrats holding differing views on the issue.
Trump has promised to push the International Olympic Committee to change its rules on transgender athletes before the 2028 Los Angeles Games.