It was one of those moments that makes every press secretary in the room hold their breath. February 2025. The White House. A room full of governors, coffee cups clinking, and then it happened. Donald Trump looks right at Janet Mills and tells her she better fall in line or the federal money for Maine schools is gone.
"See you in court," Mills says. Just like that.
If you want to understand the current friction between the Maine governor and Trump, you have to look at that exchange. It wasn’t just a soundbite. It was the opening bell for a relationship that has become one of the most litigious and loud in modern New England politics. We’re talking about a President who treats federal funding like a reward for loyalty and a Governor who treats the law like a fortress.
The Transgender Sports Fight That Started the Fire
The big blow-up—the one everyone keeps Googling—is about transgender athletes. Trump signed an executive order right after getting back into office in 2025. Basically, it told schools they had to ban transgender girls from female sports or lose their Title IX funding.
Maine didn't budge.
Governor Mills, a former prosecutor and Attorney General, didn't just disagree. She went on the offensive. She basically told the President that Maine follows Maine law, and Maine law says you can't discriminate. Trump’s response? He called her out by name during an NGA event, asking if she was "not going to comply."
When Trump told her "We are the federal law," it set off a chain reaction. The Department of Education started investigating Maine schools. They even froze some funds. Mills hasn't backed down an inch, though. She’s actually used the fight to fuel her 2026 Senate run, positioning herself as the "fighter" who won't be bullied by a "loud man talking tough."
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A State Divided by a Congressional District
You can't talk about the Maine governor and Trump without talking about the "Two Maines." It’s a real thing. It’s why Trump keeps getting an electoral vote here even when he loses the state.
In 2024, the results were a perfect split of the soul of the state:
- Kamala Harris took the 1st District (the coast, the cities, the "liberals").
- Donald Trump crushed it in the 2nd District (the woods, the farms, the "forgotten").
This creates a nightmare for Janet Mills. She has to govern a state where half the map is wearing red hats and the other half is filing lawsuits against the guy in the red hat. When Trump won the 2nd District for the third time in a row, it proved his brand of populism isn't going anywhere in rural Maine.
Honestly, it makes every move she makes a gamble. If she fights Trump too hard, she alienates the northern half of her own state. If she doesn't fight him enough, her base in Portland thinks she’s soft.
The Shutdown and the SNAP Crisis
Things got even messier in late 2025. Remember the government shutdown? The one over health care tax credits? That hit Maine harder than most.
The USDA sent out a notice saying SNAP benefits—food stamps—weren't going to be issued for November because of the stalemate in D.C. Mills didn't miss a beat. She blamed the "Trump Administration and Republicans in Congress" for using hungry families as "pawns."
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It’s a pattern. Trump tries to leverage federal programs to get what he wants from the states, and Mills uses her platform to frame it as a direct attack on Maine people. It’s not just policy; it’s personal. They’ve traded barbs over everything from Canadian tariffs to the price of bread.
Why This Matters for 2026
Janet Mills is term-limited as governor. She’s done. But she isn't going home to Farmington to knit. She’s running for the U.S. Senate against Susan Collins.
Her entire campaign is built on her rivalry with Trump. She’s betting that Maine voters want someone who will stand up to the White House. But Susan Collins has that "independent" brand that is hard to beat. Mills is essentially trying to tie Collins to Trump, arguing that Collins hasn't been "strong enough" to stop the President's more radical orders.
Common Misconceptions About the Feud
A lot of people think Mills hates everything Trump does. That’s not quite right. After the 2024 election, she actually put out a pretty civil statement. She said if he does something good for Maine, she’ll support him. If he does something bad, she’ll fight him.
The problem is, they haven't agreed on what "good" looks like in a long time.
Another myth is that Trump can just "stop all money" to Maine. He can try, and he has, but the "power of the purse" belongs to Congress. That’s why we see so many lawsuits. The courts have to decide if a President can legally withhold money that Congress already told him to spend.
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What You Should Watch Next
The relationship between the Maine governor and Trump is going to get worse before it gets better. Here is what's on the horizon:
- The Title IX Lawsuit: This is the big one. If the courts side with Trump, Maine might actually have to change its laws or face a massive budget hole in its schools.
- The 2026 Midterms: This will be a referendum on both of them. If Mills wins the Senate seat, she takes the fight directly to D.C.
- Federal Law Enforcement: There’s been talk of federal "operations" in Maine. If Trump sends federal agents into the state for deportations or other actions without Mills’ blessing, expect fireworks.
If you’re living in Maine, you’ve got to stay informed. Don't just read the headlines. Look at the court filings. Look at the actual budget numbers. This isn't just "politics as usual"—it's a fundamental debate about who actually runs the state.
To stay on top of this, keep an eye on the official Maine.gov newsroom for the Governor's statements, but also follow the local reporters at the Bangor Daily News and Maine Public. They’re the ones in the room when the shouting starts.
The best way to handle this as a citizen? Reach out to your local representatives. They are often caught in the middle of this federal-state tug-of-war and can tell you exactly how these budget threats are affecting your local school or town office.
This isn't just about two famous people arguing; it's about whether Maine's laws still mean what they say.