Maine Lawmaker Applauds Trump for 'Clear Message' on Women's Sports

Maine state GOP Representative Laurel Libby has thrown her full support behind former President Donald Trump’s firm stance on keeping biological males out of girls’ and women’s sports. Trump addressed the issue during a speech to Congress on Tuesday night, earning a raucous reception from his Republican colleagues.

Libby, who has been no stranger to controversy in her state legislature, was previously censured by the Maine House of Representatives over a social media post criticizing a transgender athlete's participation in a girls’ competition. She has also been vocal about her opposition to Maine Governor Janet Mills’ handling of the state’s refusal to align with Trump’s executive order on gender participation in sports. The clash between Mills and Trump earlier this year stirred up significant political tension, with the former president threatening to withdraw federal funding from Maine’s schools if the state didn’t comply.

Trump’s speech on Tuesday included a pointed reference to the executive order, in which he declared, "Schools will kick men off the girls’ team, or they will lose all federal funding." The remark drew loud cheers from many in the room, underscoring the divisive nature of this issue.

The former president also highlighted the story of Payton McNabb, a high school volleyball player who was severely injured after being struck in the face by a ball spiked by a transgender athlete. According to Trump, McNabb’s experience is a stark illustration of the dangers posed by allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports.

Libby took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to praise Trump’s message, stating that Governor Mills must be "absolutely panicking." She added, "Her failures have made Maine ground zero in the fight to protect girls' sports. President Trump is sending a clear message to her and other leaders nationwide: Our girls’ voices will be heard and their rights will be respected."

This comes just a day after Senate Democrats blocked the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act from advancing in the Senate. The bill, backed by Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, required 60 votes to overcome a filibuster but fell short at 51. Not a single Senate Democrat voted in favor of the legislation.