Maine Gov. Janet Mills targeted by recall petition amid transgender sports controversy

President Donald Trump has taken a firm stance in the early weeks of his new administration with regard to transgender athletes in girls' and women's sports, and not surprisingly, he has drawn the ire of a number of prominent liberals along the way.

Among those standing in potential defiance of Trump's executive order on biological males in female sports competitions is Maine Gov. Janet Mills, but as Fox News reports, a recall petition calling for her removal has already attracted more than 22,000 signatures.

Mills challenges Trump

It was last Monday, during an event at the White House, that Mills and Trump engaged in a heated public exchange on the issue of biological males playing in female-designated athletic competitions.

Addressing his initiatives on the topic, Trump singled out Mills for her previously declared stance in opposition, asking her directly if she planned to comply with his administration's new Title IX rules preventing transgender participation in girls' sports.

Mills said she planned to follow the law, to which Trump replied that if she defied his executive order, Maine's receipt of federal funds would be put at risk.

“We'll see you in court,” Mills said to Trump, a prospect the president said he welcomed.

Stance triggers recall petition

While Mills may have assumed that she had her state's backing when she took her defiant posture with Trump, that belief may have been premature.

As Fox News notes, a protest against Mills unfolded outside the Maine State House on Saturday, with participants lodging their complaints about the governor's conduct and gathering signatures in support of a recall.

Julia Deitrick, a high school student who recently spoke out on the controversy at a local school board meeting, addressed the gathered crowd and underscored what she says are the negative effects of allowing biological males to compete against girls.

“We have waited. We have spoken up. We have trusted those in power that they would protect the integrity of women's sports. But our patience has only been met with inaction, dismissal and policies that continue to erode the opportunities and fairness that female athletes deserve,” Deitrick said.

With over 20,000 signatures already collected in support of Mills' recall, it appears that the frustration among Mainers only continues to grow, but whether that will be enough to force a gubernatorial course correction, only time will tell.