Gov Janet Mills gives blistering response as Trump demands apology over Maine's policy for trans athletes

BANGOR, MAINE: Maine Governor Janet Mills responded to President Donald Trump's demand for a personal apology over their dispute on the state's policy on transgender athletes competing in girls' and women's sports, while attending an event in Bangor on Monday, March 24, reported WMTW.

The POTUS signed an executive order in February to stop trans athletes from competing in women's sports.

Later, during a White House event, he engaged himself in a verbal dispute with Mills after suggesting that he would withhold federal funding from Maine over its refusal to comply with the order.

On Saturday, the 78-year-old commander-in-chief took to Truth Social to claim "the State of Maine has apologized for their Governor’s strong, but totally incorrect, statement."

However, he had "not heard from the Governor herself, and she is the one that matters in such cases."

He went on to demand "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."

Janet Mills' response to Donald Trump

Janet Mills responded to Donald Trump's demand for an apology on Monday, stating, "My issue is about the rule of law, pure and simple. 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," she continued, arguing that the president's executive orders do not allow him to create laws.

"That's just fundamental law. And I stand for the rule of law and the separation of powers. Look, the issue isn't about transgender sports," said the governor.

"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," Mills noted. 

Maine's secretary of state insists the state has not apologized to Donald Trump

Donald Trump's post on Truth Social also prompted a response from Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who set the POTUS correct, noting that the state had not apologized to him for its stance on trans women participating in sports.

"As Maine's Secretary of State, I am responsible for placing the state seal on all official acts of the State of Maine as part of my duties under the Maine Constitution," Bellows posted on Bluesky.

"When President Trump stated that the 'State of Maine' had apologized, it was important for Mainers to know that no such paperwork had crossed my desk. Not that the state needs to apologize for anything of course," she added. 

The Trump administration previously held Maine in violation of the updated Title IX law, and gave the state a deadline of March 27 to reverse its policy allowing transgender student-athletes to participate in girls’ and women’s sports.

The US Department of Agriculture also temporarily paused funding to the University of Maine System earlier in March. It has since been resumed after a review by the federal department found UMS to be in compliance with Title IX.