At a meeting of governors at the White House on Feb. 21, Maine governor Janet Mills defied president Donald Trump's threat to withhold federal funding.

President Donald Trump sparred with Maine's Democratic governor, Janet Mills, during a meeting of governors at the White House on Friday.

President Donald Trump sparred with Maine’s Democratic governor during a meeting of governors at the White House on Friday, with Gov. Janet Mills telling the Republican president, “We’ll see you in court,

Janet Mills' vow that she would see Trump in court over his threat to withhold money from the state if it didn't comply with his executive order delighted Democrats who want more strident pushback. But the dust-up that played out in the open Friday as Trump hosted governors at the White House ticked off a president known to retaliate against people he considers enemies.

Janet Mills, who has a long history of facing tough guys in the courtroom and in politics, finds herself in an unprecedented moment with the nation watching.

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.

President Trump and Maine Gov. Janet Mills clashed over Trump's order banning transgender athletes from playing in girl and women sports.

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,

At a White House event with a bipartisan group of governors Friday, President Donald Trump briefly sparred with Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills.