“Governor Mills must apologize to the American people IMMEDIATELY,” Trump wrote, “and promise she will never again undermine a future Trump presidency.”

New York, N.Y. — President Donald Trump escalated his ongoing feud with Maine Governor Janet Mills this week, insisting she publicly apologize and promise to never “challenge” him again—a demand Mills swiftly rejected as “unbecoming of any leader.”

The clash, rooted in years of policy disagreements and Trump’s mounting frustration with defiant state officials, underscores the president’s penchant for retaliatory politics.

In a fiery Truth Social post Tuesday, Trump accused Mills of “gross incompetence” and “disloyalty,” citing her criticism of his administration’s handling of pandemic aid and infrastructure funding.

“Governor Mills must apologize to the American people IMMEDIATELY,” Trump wrote, “and promise she will never again undermine a future Trump presidency.”

The post, riddled with personal attacks, marked a tactic Maine political observers say reflects his waning influence over nonpartisan leaders.

Mills, a Democrat elected in 2018, fired back during a press conference Wednesday, framing Trump’s demands as evidence of his “inability to tolerate dissent.”

“I serve the people of Maine, not the ego of a president,” she said. “I won’t apologize for fighting for our state’s interests, and I certainly won’t be intimidated into silence.”

Her remarks drew applause from bipartisan lawmakers in Augusta, including Republican State Senator Lisa Keim, who called Trump’s ultimatum “unproductive and juvenile.”

The dispute traces back to Mills’ first term, when she frequently clashed with Trump over COVID-19 policies. In 2020, she defied Trump’s push to rapidly reopen businesses, prioritizing science-based restrictions that earned Maine one of the nation’s lowest pandemic death rates.

Trump retaliated by delaying federal relief funds—a move Mills labeled “cruelty disguised as policy.” More recently, Mills criticized Trump’s threats to withhold infrastructure grants from states with Democratic governors, calling it “political blackmail” that harmed rural Maine communities.

Trump’s allies, however, argue Mills has “antagonized” him to boost her own profile. “She’s using Trump’s name to stay relevant,” claimed Jason Savage, executive director of the Maine Republican Party.

But polling tells a different story: Mills holds a 62% approval rating in Maine, with even 33% of GOP voters praising her fiscal stewardship. National Democrats, meanwhile, have seized on the feud to cast Trump as a bully. “This isn’t leadership—it’s a tantrum,” said Democratic National Committee chair Jaime Harrison.

Political analysts suggest Trump’s outburst is less about Mills than his broader strategy to dominate headlines and cast himself as a besieged figure. “Trump needs enemies to motivate his base, and independent governors like Mills are perfect targets,” said Jessica Taylor, a political strategist. “But his threats ring hollow now—he’s not in office, so he can’t actually withhold funds or enforce loyalty.”

Mills’ resistance has endeared her to Mainers who value her pragmatic style.

After Trump’s post went viral, #StandWithMills trended on social media, with residents sharing stories of her advocacy for broadband expansion and opioid crisis funding.

“She’s not a partisan warrior—she just gets stuff done,” said Portland small-business owner Clara Nguyen. Even some Trump voters, like retired fisherman Ed Brennan, admitted Mills “stands her ground respectfully, unlike the constant drama from Washington.”

The feud also highlights Trump’s strained relationship with state leaders, many of whom have grown weary of his confrontational approach. Republican governors like New Hampshire’s Chris Sununu have similarly resisted Trump’s demands for absolute loyalty, signaling a broader rift within the GOP.

“Trump’s playbook only works if people fear him,” said University of Maine political scientist Mark Brewer. “But governors like Mills know their power comes from voters, not him.”

After Mills fired back at Trump, famed horror author Stephen King spoke out to praise her.

As the 2024 election looms, Trump’s fixation on loyalty tests risks alienating moderates. A recent Suffolk University poll found 51% of independents view his public feuds as “distractions from real issues.” Mills, by contrast, has leaned into her bipartisan record, signing a GOP-backed tax cut this year while expanding abortion access—a balance that’s solidified her reputation as a swing-state pragmatist.

For now, Mills shows no sign of backing down.

When asked if she’d ever apologize to Trump, she quipped, “I’ve apologized for things worth apologizing for—like that time I forgot to salt my driveway and took a tumble. This isn’t one of them.” The jab drew laughter from reporters, but her tone turned serious as she added, “This isn’t about me or him. It’s about whether we let bullies dictate how we govern.”

Trump’s team has not clarified what consequences Mills might face for her defiance, though his campaign issued a vague warning about “holding rogue governors accountable” if reelected. Legal experts, however, note that presidents lack constitutional authority to penalize state leaders for political disagreements.

As the war of words rages, one thing is clear: in Maine, Mills’ stock keeps rising. Over 80% of Mainers say they trust her more than Trump to address local issues—a statistic that underscores the fading power of presidential intimidation in America’s increasingly decentralized political landscape.

Maine Governor Mills Stands Firm After Trump’s Public Rebuke (March 23, 2025)

#TrumpTantrum #StandWithMills #MaineStrong #PoliticalBullying #GovernorVsPresident #NoApologyNeeded #DefiantLeadership #AccountabilityMatters #PartisanConflict

Tags: Donald Trump, Janet Mills, Maine politics, 2024 election, presidential power, state-federal relations, political feuds, Democratic governors, Republican leadership, infrastructure funding, pandemic response