President Donald Trump demanded a “full throated apology” Saturday from Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D), regarding a spat the two had over transgender sports issues, in a social media post.
“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,” said Trump 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. I’m sure she will be able to do that quite easily.”
Trump quickly began making moves targeted at transgender Americans when he took office earlier this year. On the day he was inaugurated, Trump issued an executive order “defending women form gender ideology,” and later issued another order for “keeping men out of women’s sports.”
Following that action, Trump told Mills that she would not get federal funding if she did not comply with the order seeking to bar transgender women from competing in women’s sports, Reuters said.
“We’re going to follow the law, sir. We’ll see you in court,” Mills said in response.
Then, the U.S. Department of Agriculture suspended funding for research and programs at the University of Maine, said Reuters reported on March 11. Per The Hill, it was given until March 27 to comply.
This week, the USDA announced that the University of Maine System (UMaine) “has clearly communicated its compliance with Title IX’s requirement to protect equal opportunities for women and girls to compete in safe and fair sports, as articulated in President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order.”
“UMaine’s decision to side with sanity is a win for women and girls in Maine,” said the department.
According to The Hill, UMaine was just one of several institutions targeted by the Education Department’s compliance review. Others include University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association.
While Mills bickered with the Trump administration over its policy on transgender athletes, one Democratic governor has expressed at least some solidarity with the measures. Earlier this month California Gov. Gavin Newsom – who made a name for himself early on in his political career by supporting gay marriage – surprised supporters when he said he believes it is “deeply unfair” for transgender athletes to participate in women’s sports on the first episode of his new podcast.