In a surprising display of confusion, former President Donald Trump repeatedly referred to Janet Mills, Maine’s first female governor, as “he” and “him” during a chaotic call to supporters earlier this week. This mistake occurred at least six times over the course of a disjointed 15-minute “tele-rally,” raising concerns about the cognitive state of the Republican presidential nominee.
According to the Bangor Daily News, Trump’s errors were accompanied by several false claims. He wrongly accused Mills of planning to resettle 75,000 immigrants in the state and misrepresented Vice President Kamala Harris’s position on private insurance.
“Your radical left governor has announced a plan to resettle 75,000 migrants, many of whom will be murderers, gang members, and terrorists, frankly, and whatever is going on with him, radical-left governor,” Trump alleged. “He wants to resettle 75,000 migrants into Maine. That’s only because they told him to do so. He’s weak and ineffective, and they told him to do so, and he’s saying ‘Yes, sir. Yes, ma’am. I will do it.’”
Trump also used a masculine pronoun to refer to Mills when criticizing the Democratic vice presidential nominee, Kamala Harris. In reality, Mills’ plan aims to strengthen Maine’s workforce by attracting 75,000 people over the next decade, not to inundate the state with immigrants as Trump suggested.
In a quick response, Governor Mills took to X to point out Trump’s error, stating, “He better get used to recognizing women. He’s about to get beat by one.”
During the rally, Trump also criticized Mills in connection with Harris, saying, “Kamala’s turning your state into a dumping ground because they have a governor that’ll do whatever they say.”
Trump’s inability to correctly refer to a prominent female leader highlights not just a verbal slip, but a concerning pattern of disrespect toward women in power.
As Trump continues to campaign in a closely contested race, these blunders raise serious questions about his ability to lead. Yet, polls still show a tight competition.
He better get used to recognizing women. He’s about to get beat by one. https://t.co/dQS4CcHX8l
— Janet Mills (@JanetMillsforME) October 8, 2024