‘No sir, you are not’: Maine newspaper issues Trump civics lesson...

[Jessica_Rose]

'No sir, you are not': Maine newspaper issues Trump civics lesson as he threatens state

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/no-sir-you-are-not-maine-newspaper-issues-trump-civics-lesson-as-he-threatens-state/ar-AA1zAgqW?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=3dc43535328f46afd83f1ecfe2573895&ei=130

Story by Adam Nichols (22 Feb 2025)

The Bangor Daily News' editorial board issued its scathing putdown after Trump directed comments to the state's Democratic governor, Janet Mills, as she attended a White House luncheon Friday.

He hit out because Maine has refused to change laws regarding transgender athletes in student sports.

"You'd better do it because you're not going to get any federal funding at all if you don't," he told her.

When she hit back with, "I'm complying with state and federal laws," Trump told her, "we are the federal law."

"No sir, you are not the federal law," the newspaper schooled him.

"Congress, not the president, writes and amends the laws of the United States. Congress, not the president, allocates funding to federal agencies and programs. Federal courts are upholding these core tenets of our democracy as Trump seeks to undermine them."

"She didn't get into her personal feelings about transgender athletes or any other American. Because her personal feelings don't matter. The governor, like the president, is responsible for upholding laws that protect the rights of all Mainers and all Americans."

Trump signed an executive order in his first few days in office that states federal funding will be withheld to states that allow trans girls in women's sports. The Maine Principals' Association stated it would not change its policies, based on the Maine Human Rights Act.