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US President Donald Trump on Friday clashed with the Democratic governor of Maine, Janet Mills, over federal funds he threatened to withhold from the state over transgender athletes participating in girls and women’s sports.

Trump was said to be addressing Democratic and Republican governors in the State Dining Room at the White House when he mentioned his recent executive order banning trans athletes from playing women’s sports, making Mills to stand up and object.

Trump told Mills to better do it, stating that she would not get federal funding.

The governor, who confronted Trump, stressed that they would follow the law, adding that they would see him in court.

Shooting back at her, Trump said, “Enjoy your life after governor because I don’t think you’ll be an elected official afterwards.”

The US president frequently railed against transgender athletes on the campaign trail.

Meanwhile, his recently signed executive order has been praised by supporters saying it will restore fairness but critics say the directive infringes on the rights of a tiny minority of athletes.

The Republican president is relying on the Education Department to achieve the directive’s goal through a revised interpretation of federal civil rights laws.

The exchange on Friday was not the first time Trump attacked Maine over the issue as he has threatened to withhold federal money from the state if it did not comply with his order during separate remarks at a Republican Governors Association meeting on Thursday.

Responding, to the White House exchange in a statement on Friday, Mills said that her state will not be intimidated by the President’s threats.

“If the President attempts to unilaterally deprive Maine school children of the benefit of Federal funding, my Administration and the Attorney General will take all appropriate and necessary legal action to restore that funding and the academic opportunity it provides,” she said.