President Donald Trump has drawn a hard line in the sand, vowing on Thursday to cut off all federal funding to Maine unless the state complies with his executive order banning biological males from competing in women’s sports. The announcement came during a gathering of Republican governors in Washington, where Trump made it clear he’s fed up with states thumbing their noses at his America First policies. This showdown with Maine’s liberal leadership underscores the GOP’s unwavering commitment to fairness and safety in athletics—a fight conservatives have championed for years.

Trump didn’t hold back when addressing Maine’s refusal to enforce his February 5 directive, which demands an end to male participation in female sports categories.

“I heard men are still playing in Maine,” he told the governors. “I hate to tell you this, but we’re not going to give them any federal money, they are still saying ‘we want men to play in women’s sports’ and I can not believe that they’re doing that… So we’re not going to give them any federal funding, none whatsoever, until they clean that up.”

The executive order mandates that federal agencies review grants, programs, and policies to ensure compliance, threatening strict Title IX enforcement against non-compliant educational institutions and athletic associations. It’s a direct shot at undoing the leftist push to blur biological lines in sports.

Maine’s Principals Association (MPA), led by executive director Mike Burnham, has dug in its heels, claiming the order clashes with the state’s Human Rights Act. Burnham told local outlets the MPA will keep letting athletes compete based on gender identity, not biology.

“The executive order and our Maine state Human Rights Act are in conflict, and the Maine Principal’s Association (MPA) will continue to follow state law as it pertains to gender identity,” he said.

He doubled down to Fox News Digital, stating the MPA would instruct schools to stick with state law while monitoring federal updates. This defiance comes even as the U.S. Department of Education launched Title IX probes into Minnesota and California for similar refusals.

Trump’s order isn’t vague about its purpose.

“Many sport-specific governing bodies have no official position or requirements regarding trans-identifying athletes. Others allow men to compete in women’s categories if these men reduce the testosterone in their bodies below certain levels or provide documentation of ‘sincerely held’ gender identity,” it states. “These policies are unfair to female athletes and do not protect female safety.”

For Republicans, this is about leveling the playing field—literally. Maine’s stance flies in the face of that, and Trump’s ready to hit them where it hurts: the wallet. Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor fired a warning shot, saying, “The Minnesota State High School League and the California Interscholastic Federation are free to engage in all the meaningless virtue-signaling that they want, but at the end of the day they must abide by federal law.”

The contrast is glaring. While Biden’s crew pushed woke gender rules, Trump’s reversing course fast. His February 5 order kicked off a wave of compliance—Virginia’s High School League fell in line, and the NCAA banned trans athletes from women’s sports a day later. Maine, California, and Minnesota, though, are betting on state laws to shield them. Good luck with that when federal dollars dry up.

Republicans aren’t backing down. Trump’s threat isn’t a bluff—it’s a promise to protect women’s sports from what he calls “transgender lunacy.” Maine can cling to its progressive playbook, but the cost will be steep. The GOP’s got the reins now, and they’re steering toward a future where fairness trumps identity politics every time.