A tense exchange between Maine Governor Janet Mills and President Donald Trump last month over the White House’s executive order banning transgender athletes from women’s sports.

“You better comply because otherwise you’re not getting any federal funding,” said Trump. 

“I’ll see you in court,” responded Mills. 

The clash unfolding after Trump threatened to withhold federal funds from states that refused to adhere with the order. Mills stood her ground during a meeting with other Governors at the White House, arguing she was following both state and federal laws.

Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero recounted the incident, saying, “Governor Janet Mills had approved a 16-year-old transgender from male to female–to play in the all girls hockey team–I’m not too sure about the sport. But, I guess the President did not take very favorably to that and called her out.”

“These aren’t her exact words, but she said, Mr. President, I have to follow state and federal laws,” added Leon Guerrero. 

The Maga’håga also shared her perspective on the issue, “I think we have to respect people who want to create their own identity. There are people that want to transition from one gender to the other–and I think that’s their decision and that’s what we should respect.”

However, Attorney General Doug Moylan expressed a different view. 

The AG recently met with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and other attorneys general, gathering insight from cisgender female athletes and learning more about the executive order.

“That’s why the President, in his executive order, talks about the truth, and I don’t think it's necessarily judging as it is trying to empower girls,” said Moylan. “My main intent in going there was to preserve our money.”

Moylan added he plans to meet with the Guam Education Board to express what he was informed of from the white house on the matter. 

Meantime, in a recent statement Governor mills asserted that Maine's current policy allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports is a “worthy debate” in the legislature, emphasizing that the matter is not something the executive branch has the power to change.