Who Is the Governor of Maine? All About Janet Mills
Governor Mills recently clashed with Donald Trump at the White House over his policies regarding transgender athletes.
Maine Governor Janet Mills has been in politics since the early 2000s, but sheās recently making headlines over her tense interaction with Donald Trump at the White House. While attending a governors meeting with the president on February 21, 2025, Mills and Trump clashed over his policies on transgender athletes. The heated exchange sparked curiosity among voters around the United States, and many want to learn more about her.
Shortly before attending the White House event, Mills threatened legal action against Trump if he āattempts to unilaterally deprive Maine school children of the benefit of federal funding,ā adding that her administration āand the attorney general will take all appropriate and necessary legal action to restore that funding and the academic opportunity it provides,ā according to the Associated Press.
In response, Trump called out Mills during the meeting by asking her, āAre you not going to comply with [my executive order regarding transgender athletes]?ā to which she responded, āIām complying with state and federal laws.ā
The president then nudged, āWe are the federal law,ā and the Democratic governor noted, āWe are going to follow the law.ā The tension rose once Trump said, āYouād better comply. Otherwise, youāre not getting any federal funding.ā
āWeāll see you in court,ā Mills retorted, to which Trump concluded, āGood, Iāll see you in court. I look forward to that. That should be a real easy one. And enjoy your life after governor because I donāt think youāll be in elected politics.ā
Now that Mills has the spotlight on her, keep reading to learn more about her political career and background.
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Janet Mills Is New Englandās First Woman District Attorney
From 1976 to 1980, Mills served as Maineās first female criminal prosecutor. She then worked her way up the ranks in government, eventually becoming New Englandās first woman district attorney.
Janet Mills Supports Democratic Values
As a longtime Democrat, Mills has voiced her support for multiple policies that align with her party, such as LGBT rights, environmental policies and abortion procedures and rights.
Janet Millsā Husband Died
Mills married her late husband, real estate developer Stanley Kuklinski, but he died in 2014 due to the effects from a stroke. At the time, Mills released a statement, obtained by the Portland Press Herald, regarding her husbandās death.
āHe was the master of rebounds,ā she said. āHe survived three bouts of cancer, the loss of his first wife, having to care for his five daughters. He had a really can-do attitude.ā