Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., commented on the recent conflict between Maine Gov. Janet Mills and former President Donald Trump regarding transgender participation in women’s sports. Earlier this month, Trump issued the “No Men in Women’s Sports” executive order aimed at preventing transgender athletes from competing in women’s and girls’ sports. Some states, including Maine, have resisted this directive.
The disagreement escalated into a public exchange on Friday, where Trump warned that federal funding could be withheld if Maine continued to permit transgender athletes in women’s sports. In response, Mills stated, “We’ll see you in court.” During an interview on “Fox News Live” with anchor Mike Emanuel, Blackburn addressed Maine’s stance, saying, “This is one of those defining issues between the left and the right. We firmly believe that President Trump is correct on this matter. The federal government supports Title IX, which protects women and women’s sports, and we will not endorse biological men competing in women’s sports. As President Trump indicated, this is the federal position, and the governor should be upholding it.”
Blackburn further emphasized, “She should prioritize the protection of women and women’s sports. It is astonishing that she would choose not to do so.” Meanwhile, the executive director of Maine’s primary high school sports governing body stated that eligibility for athletic teams will continue to be determined based on a student’s declared gender identity, despite the president’s executive order.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat and chairman of the National Governors Association, also weighed in on the Mills-Trump dispute. He remarked, “As governors, we strive to improve how we disagree. We hope that disagreements can elevate the discourse and lead to common solutions. I don’t believe this exchange exemplifies that approach,” noting that some governors may not have been aware of the context behind the heated exchange.
