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

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.

Maine's governor, 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.

President Donald Trump sparred with Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills on Friday over compliance with an executive order about transgender women in sports.

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

Federal power only goes so far. State governors and legislatures have wide authority over local law enforcement, schools, health and how cities and counties handle immigration.

Who and what will he target next, and what will he do?” Maine Governor Janet Mills said. “In America, the President is neither a King nor a dictator, as much as this one tries to act like it – and it is the rule of law that prevents him from being so.

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.