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Fox News
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Maine Gov. Janet Mills responds to Trump's demand for apology over trans-athlete policies
President Donald Trump called for Maine Gov. Janet Mills to apologize to him over her state's reluctance to follow his executive order to ban trans athletes from girls sports over the weekend, and Mills has now responded without an apology. Mills spoke to reporters in Bangor on Monday, rebuffing Trump and insisting her state's reluctance to follow his executive order is rooted in "the rule of law." "My issue is about the rule of law, pure and simple," Mills said. "It's not about transgender sports; it's about who makes the laws and who enforces the laws. I read the Constitution. The Constitution says that the president, the chief executive, shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed. It doesn't allow him to make laws out of whole cloth by tweet or Instagram post or press release or executive order." Mills also condemned Trump for his stance on abortion and tariffs, and never once referred to the president by name. "We've seen policies that threaten women and girls across the country," Mills said. "If the current occupant of the White House wants to protect women and girls, he should start by protecting the women and teenage girls who are suffering miscarriages and dying because they can't get basic, life-saving healthcare in states across the country. "Look, the issue isn't about transgender sports. People in Maine and across the country are waiting for an economic plan from the current occupant of the White House. And so far, we've seen none. We've seen tariffs and threats of tariffs that threaten our economy here in Maine and across the country." Trump's initial demand for an apology from Mills came in a Truth Social post on Saturday morning. "While the State of Maine has apologized for their Governor's strong, but totally incorrect, statement about men playing in women's sports while at the White House Governor's Conference, we have not heard from the Governor herself, and she is the one that matters in such cases," Trump said. "Therefore, we need a full throated apology from the Governor herself, and a statement that she will never make such an unlawful challenge to the Federal Government again, before this case can be settled. I'm sure she will be able to do that quite easily. Thank you for your attention to this matter and, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!! DJT" A feud between the two began on Feb. 20, when Trump threatened to cut federal funding to the state for not banning trans athletes from girls and women's sports, during a GOP meeting of governors. The next day, Mills' office responded with a statement threatening legal action against the Trump administration if it did withhold federal funding from the state. Then, Trump and Mills verbally sparred in a widely-publicized argument at the White House during a bipartisan meeting of governors. "Are you not going to comply with that?" Trump asked Mills. "I'm complying with state and federal laws," she responded, before Trump said, "Well, we are the federal law." "You better do it. You better do it because you're not going to get any federal funding at all if you don't," he continued. "And by the way, your population, even though it's somewhat liberal — although I did very well there — your population doesn't want men playing in women's sports, so you better comply because otherwise you're not getting any federal funding." "We'll see you in court," Mills responded. "Good, I'll see you in court. I look forward to that. That should be a real easy one. And enjoy your life after governor because I don't think you'll be in elected politics," Trump concluded. The Department of Education announced a Title IX investigation against Maine just hours later. Since then, multiple protests against Mills have been held outside of the state capital, and the Maine University System has cooperated with the Trump administration to ensure no trans athletes compete in women's sports after a temporary funding pause. Last week, Health and Human Services' Office of Civil Rights (OCR) officially announced it found the Maine Department of Education, the Maine Principals' Association and Greely High School in violation of Title IX for its continued enabling of trans inclusion in girls' sports. OCR acting director Anthony Archeval provided a statement to Fox News Digital warning of potential consequences for continued defiance of the executive order. "What HHS is asking of the Maine Department of Education, the Maine Principals' Association (MPA) and Greely High School is simple — protect female athletes' rights. Girls deserve girls-only sports without male competitors. And if Maine won't come to the table to voluntarily comply with Title IX, HHS will enforce Title IX to the fullest extent permitted by the law," Archeval said. HHS' initial announcement warned that the state had 10 days to correct its policies through a signed agreement or risk referral to the U.S. Department of Justice for appropriate action. The deadline to comply is this Thursday. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump demands apology from Maine Gov. Janet Mills
(NewsNation) — President Donald Trump over the weekend demanded an apology from Maine Gov. Janet Mills. The two have been at odds since Mills said her state would allow transgender athletes to participate in women's sports despite Trump signing an executive order against the issue. Trump said on social media Saturday that the state of Maine has apologized for its governor's 'strong but totally incorrect statement while at the White House Governor's Conference' but that he has not heard from Mills herself. During an event at the White House last month, Trump said he would withhold federal funding from Maine over its refusal to comply with the order on trans athletes. When prompted, Mills said Maine was following federal law and told the president, 'See you in court,' NewsNation partner The Hill reported. Popular laundry detergent recalled amid bacteria contamination It is unclear what apology Trump was referring to from the state of Maine in his post. Maine's Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said on social media that she can confirm — 'as the official keeper of all state records and guardian of the seal' — that the state of Maine has not apologized. 'We need a full-throated apology from the Governor herself, and a statement that she will never make such an unlawful challenge to the Federal Government again before this case can be settled,' Trump said in his post. 'I'm sure she will be able to do that quite easily.' After the spat between Trump and Mills at the White House, his administration opened several separate but overlapping investigations into Maine by the Departments of Education, Agriculture and Health and Human Services. The U.S. Department of Agriculture paused federal funding for the University of Maine until it officially found it in compliance with Title IX. New Social Security requirements call for in-person checks In a statement, the University of Maine system told NewsNation it has always been compliant but said it was 'relieved' at the finding. However, last Wednesday, the federal Education Department found the state's Department of Education in violation of Title IX. It is now giving Maine's Department of Education 'an opportunity to voluntarily agree within 10 days or risk imminent enforcement action including referral to the U.S. Department of Justice.' Rep. Laurel Libby, R-Maine, whose social media post about a high school athlete participating in girls sports jump-started the spat between Trump and Mills, has said nothing has changed. 'Not only do I not think that President Trump will get an apology, I think Gov. Mills is trying to pull the wool over everyone's eyes,' Libby said. 'Nothing has changed in Maine. The university system has confirmed what we already knew.' California AG warns 23andMe users to delete their data Mills did not respond to a request for comment. Libby has been censured from the statehouse floor for making the post. She is now suing to regain her vote and ability to speak on the floor. Libby said the state is making a 'huge gamble' when it comes to federal funding, with 'hundreds of millions of dollars at stake.' 'I think (Mills) is willing to risk that, which is unfortunate because it's putting Maine students' education on the line and it's ensuring that Maine girls don't have a fair, safe and level playing field,' Libby said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump demands 'full throated' apology from Gov. Mills over Maine's transgender athlete policy
Mar. 22—President Donald Trump demanded a "full throated" apology from Gov. Janet Mills on social media Saturday as the White House continues to target Maine for its policy allowing transgender students to compete in women's and girls sports. "While the State of Maine has apologized for their Governor's strong, but totally incorrect, statement about men playing in women's sports while at the White House House Governor's Conference, we have not heard from the Governor herself, and she is the one that matters in such cases," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform Saturday morning. "Therefore, we need a full throated apology from the Governor herself, and a statement that she will never make such an unlawful challenge to the Federal Government again, before this case can be settled. I'm sure she will be able to do that quite easily. Thank you for your attention to this matter and, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!! DJT" Mills' office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the president's remarks Saturday. It was not immediately clear to whom the president was referring when he said that "the State of Maine has apologized." Since a heated exchange between Mills and Trump at the meeting of governors last month, Maine has been subject to a slew of federal investigations into its compliance with federal Title IX law. The U.S. Department of Education informed Maine officials this week that the state is in violation of Title IX for allowing transgender girls to compete in high school athletics. Those findings are the same as those from a separate probe by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services into the Maine Department of Education, the organization that governs Maine high school athletics and a high school where a transgender student-athlete competes. A third investigation, by the U.S. Department of Agriculture into the University of Maine System's Title IX compliance, was resolved to the Trump administration's satisfaction. Both the Department of Education and DHHS have proposed corrective action for the Title IX violations, with DHHS saying Monday that the state has 10 days to comply or federal funds will be withheld. Maine receives more than $280 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Education for various programs, including school lunches and special education. During the governors meeting in February, Trump had told Mills that he would withhold federal funds from Maine if the state did not comply with an executive order banning competition in women's and girls sports to anyone not assigned female at birth. Mills, however, maintained that his order conflicted with the Maine Human Rights Act, a state law, and told the president: "See you in court." The Trump administration's challenge of Maine's policy hinges on a new interpretation of Title IX that argues that allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls sports is a form of discrimination because it deprives women and girls of fair athletic opportunities; such an interpretation has yet to be tested in court. The Maine Human Rights Act, on the other hand, is a state law that, in part, recognizes the rights of students to participate in extracurricular activities without discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, among other things. Mills has stood by Maine's policy since the spat. After the administration announced investigations last month, Mills suggested that the conflict was about more than the rights of transgender student-athletes. "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," Mills said in a written statement. "I imagine that the outcome of this politically directed investigation is all but predetermined," Mills continued. "My Administration will begin work with the Attorney General to defend the interests of Maine people in the court of law. But do not be misled: this is not just about who can compete on the athletic field, this is about whether a President can force compliance with his will, without regard for the rule of law that governs our nation. I believe he cannot." The Maine Principals' Association, which was named in the notice of violation from DHHS, is already challenging the Trump administration's finding that it is in violation. In a letter Tuesday, an attorney for the association said the organization receives no federal funding of any kind and thus cannot be in violation of Title IX. In its report, DHHS cited a transgender Greely High School student's win at an indoor track championship, as well as a report of a different transgender student from another school competing in a girls Nordic skiing race. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Agriculture launched a separate Title IX investigation against the University of Maine System. After briefly halting millions in federal funding for UMaine programs, the USDA said this week that it was satisfied that the system was in compliance and that its schools would be able to access federal funds going forward. UMaine officials have said that the system was already in compliance and noted that no transgender athletes were competing on any of the system's campuses. "The University of Maine System has always maintained its compliance with State and Federal laws and with NCAA rules," system Chancellor Dannel Malloy said in a statement this week. "We are relieved to put the Department's Title IX compliance review behind us." 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Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump presses Maine governor for ‘full throated apology' after transgender athlete spat
President Trump on Saturday pressed Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) to issue a personal apology after the two didn't see eye-to-eye earlier this month on a policy regarding transgender athletes in the Polar Star State. 'While the State of Maine has apologized for their Governor's strong, but totally incorrect, statement about men playing in women's sports while at the White House Governor's Conference, we have not heard from the Governor herself, and she is the one that matters in such cases,' he wrote early Saturday on Truth Social. 'Therefore, we need a full throated apology from the Governor herself, and a statement that she will never make such an unlawful challenge to the Federal Government again, before this case can be settled,' he continued. 'I'm sure she will be able to do that quite easily.' Trump earlier this month signed an executive order that seeks to bar transgender athletes from competing in sports. The Education Department earlier this year also rescinded protections against discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation — stipulations that were added last year under former President Biden. During an event at the White House last month, Trump and Mills quarreled after the president suggested to a group of GOP governors that he would withhold federal funding from Maine over its refusal to comply with the order on transgender athletes. When prompted, the Democratic governor said Maine was following federal law, telling the president, 'See you in court.' Trump, in a February speech before the Conservative Political Action Committee, doubled down on his criticism of the governor and state's transgender policies. 'She's fighting to keep men in women's sports. You ever see what happens to a woman when a woman boxes a man who transitioned to womanhood? You ever see what happens?' the president said at the time. 'It's not pretty.' His most recent comments come just days after the Trump administration ruled Maine had violated the updated Title IX law. The state was given until March 27 to reverse its policy allowing transgender student athletes to participate in girls' and women's sports, or face action from the Justice Department. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) also temporarily paused funding to the University of Maine System (UMS) earlier this month after the spat. Funds have since resumed after a USDA review found UMS to be in compliance with Title IX. 'Any false claim by the UMaine can, and will, result in onerous and even potentially criminal financial liability,' the administration wrote in a press release. 'UMaine's decision to side with sanity is a win for women and girls in Maine.' 'The choice for the rest of Maine is simple: protect equal opportunities for women, as required by law, or lose funding,' the USDA statement reads. The university was just one of several institutions targeted by the Education Department's compliance review, including the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Fox News
22-03-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Trump says he has 'not heard' from Maine Gov. Mills since spat about transgenders in sports, demands apology
Amid the ongoing battle between Maine and President Donald Trump, the state's governor, Janet Mills, has been silent, according to the president. In a Truth Social post on Saturday morning, Trump said he has "not heard" from Mills ever since their public spat last month about transgender athletes competing in girls' and women's sports. "While the State of Maine has apologized for their Governor's strong, but totally incorrect, statement about men playing in women's sports while at the White House Governor's Conference, we have not heard from the Governor herself, and she is the one that matters in such cases," Trump said. "Therefore, we need a full throated apology from the Governor herself, and a statement that she will never make such an unlawful challenge to the Federal Government again, before this case can be settled. I'm sure she will be able to do that quite easily. Thank you for your attention to this matter and, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!! DJT" Maine, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, agreed to comply with Trump's executive order to keep transgender athletes out of women's sports after much public back and forth. The University of Maine System (USM), a network of eight public universities in Maine, was subject to a temporary pause in funding from the USDA last week during an ongoing battle between the state and the federal government over trans inclusion in women's and girls' sports. The funding was reinstated just days later. Republic rep. Laurel Libby was censured earlier this month by Maine's Democratic majority and Speaker Ryan Fecteau for a social media post identifying an underage trans athlete. The censure has prevented her from carrying out other legislative actions to serve her constituents. Libby filed a lawsuit earlier this month, seeking to have her voting and speaking rights restored. She was originally told she would have her rights restored if she apologized for the post. However, she has said she will not apologize but has said she is willing to drop it if her censure is dropped. The USDA now claims that the UMS is in full compliance with Trump's executive order. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
