Amid the ongoing dispute between Maine and President Donald Trump, the state’s governor, Janet Mills, has remained silent, according to the president. In a Truth Social post Saturday morning, Trump said he has “not heard” from Mills since their public clash last month over the issue of 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”
After a highly publicized back-and-forth, Maine has agreed to comply with President Trump’s executive order barring transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Last week, the University of Maine System (USM)—a network of eight public universities across the state—faced a temporary pause in USDA funding amid the standoff between the state and the federal government over transgender inclusion in girls’ and women’s athletics. The funding was restored just a few days later.
Republican Rep. Laurel Libby was censured earlier this month by Maine’s Democratic majority and House Speaker Ryan Fecteau over a social media post that identified an underage transgender athlete. The censure has effectively barred her from performing key legislative duties on behalf of her constituents.
In response, Libby filed a lawsuit seeking to have her voting and speaking rights reinstated. Initially, she was told her rights would be restored if she issued a formal apology for the post. While she has refused to apologize, Libby has indicated she would be willing to drop the matter if the censure itself is rescinded.