WATCH: Tucker Carlson and Gov. Kristi Noem clash after she backtracks on bill banning biological men from women’s sports

During a Monday press conference, Noem made it clear that she will not be signing House Bill 1217 in its present form and instead introduced a coalition separate from the bill.

"So here you have this bill, which I think all polling shows is popular in your state, I think would be popular nationally, you said you’re excited to sign it," Carlson said. "Big business intercedes, NCAA, Chamber of Commerce, and Amazon and tell you not to sign it. And you change your mind. I think a lot of our viewers are wondering your thinking on this and how exactly this happened."

"Well, that’s not true, Tucker, and thank you for inviting me to be on the show tonight," Noem responded. "I could sign the bill the way that it is today. And then also, but it wouldn’t solve the problem. And that’s the real issue. As I looked at the bill and examined it, and have been discussing with legal scholars for many months on how to protect women’s sports, this bill would only allow the NCAA to bully South Dakota, and it would actually prevent women from being able to participate in collegiate sports. So what I’ve done is I’ve asked the legislature through a style and reform — is ask them to change the bill —"

The Governor insisted that that the bill would "allow the NCAA to take punitive action against our state" and that "legal scholars that I have been consulting with for many, many months say that I would very likely lose those litigation efforts…"

Carlson fired back "Oh, so you’re saying, so hold on, just to be clear, it’s not the bill … so, you’re saying the NCAA threatened you and you don’t think you can win that fight?"

"They said if you sign this, we won’t allow girls in South Dakota to play and you don’t think you can win in court, even though the publicly overwhelmingly supports you nationally. And so you’re caving to the NCAA? I think that’s what you’re saying," continued Carlson.

"No, that’s not right at all, Tucker," argued Noem. "In fact, you’re wrong, completely. I’ve been working on this issue for years."

"I’m sick and tired of the NCAA threatening states, challenging us and bullying us," Noem said. "So we are going to build a coalition of leaders, athletes and people who want to protect women’s sports and want to make sure that our women keep Title IX in place to protect their right to be competitive and to be rewarded by participating in these team sports and make sure this coalition can fight the NCAA to make sure we are protecting Title IX."

Noem said that she was fighting the NCAA by creating the coalition Monday, to which Carlson told her, "You vetoed the bill."

"I did not veto the bill," Noem fired back. "I asked the legislature to change it so I can win."

"I have been bullied for the last year by liberals, Tucker," she continued. "I’m not going to let anybody from the NCAA, from any big business, I’m not even going to let conservatives on the right bully me. I’m going to solve the problem. I’m going to make sure that we are building strength in numbers and we are going after the NCAA and make sure that we are keeping only girls playing in girls sports."