Proclaiming his administration as "federal law," the president demanded that Maine comply with his executive order banning transgender women from participating in women and girls' sports. Mills told the president that the state won't be intimidated and reiterated her vow to challenge him in court if he denies the state millions in federal cash.

Their exchange Friday came after Mills and Trump traded statements over the past 24 hours over his push to bar transgender athletes and evolved into an unusual breach of the typically courteous interactions that public officials,