Former President Donald Trump made a blunder during a recent call to supporters in Maine, repeatedly misgendering the state’s first woman governor, Janet Mills, by referring to her as “he” and “him” at least six times. The rambling 15-minute call on Monday night also saw Trump making other errors, including falsely claiming that Governor Mills planned to resettle 75,000 immigrants in the state. In response, Governor Mills swiftly hit back at Trump, stating that he needs to start recognizing women as he is about to be defeated by one.
In addition to misgendering Governor Mills, Trump also falsely asserted that Vice President Kamala Harris planned to eliminate private insurance. Moreover, he inaccurately insisted that Mills aimed to settle 75,000 migrants in Maine. However, the reality was that Mills had announced a strategy in 2019 to enhance the state’s workforce by 75,000 within the next decade, including through providing education to immigrants.
During the call, Trump claimed that the “radical left governor” was planning to resettle 75,000 migrants in Maine, suggesting that they could be criminals and terrorists. He criticised Governor Mills and used masculine pronouns when referring to her. As one of just two states, including Nebraska, that do not apply a winner-take-all system for electoral votes, Maine allocates one electoral vote to the winner of each congressional district and two votes to the winner of the entire state.
The call was aimed at garnering support from voters in Maine’s heavily Democratic First District. Despite polls indicating that Trump is likely to lose the state overall, he appears poised to secure victory in the Second District. Governor Mills, serving as the first woman governor of Maine, has two years remaining in her second term. The state law permits governors to serve two consecutive terms before a four-year hiatus is required to run for re-election.
In conclusion, Trump’s misgendering of Governor Mills and other errors during the call have sparked controversy and highlighted the importance of recognising and respecting gender identity in public discourse. Governor Mills’ swift response serves as a reminder of the need for accurate and respectful communication, particularly from elected officials and leaders.