Maine’s governor on Friday told a major African American organization to “kiss my butt” after the group complained he wasn’t taking part in Martin Luther King Day events next week.

Paul LePage, a newly elected Republican, is facing criticism from the NAACP for turning down invitations to events marking the MLK holiday on Monday.

“Tell them to kiss my butt,” the governor, who’s been in office two weeks, said in a local TV interview.

The NAACP said earlier this week that LePage had rejected invitations to attend its events while campaigning and since taking office earlier this month.

“We don’t want to misinterpret his intention, but the message we’re getting is that we’re not welcome and we’re not part of the Maine he’s preparing to lead for the next four years,” said Rachel Talbot Ross, state director of the NAACP and president of the NAACP Portland Branch, the Kennebec Journal reported.

LePage said he isn’t doesn’t cater to special interest groups and considers the NAACP to be one.

“They are a special interest - end of story,” he said. “And I’m not going to be held hostage by any special interests.”

He insisted that his decision to skip the MLK Day events had nothing to do with race.

“If they want, they can look at my family picture,” he said. “My son happens to be black, so they can do whatever they’d like about it.”

LePage’s son is adopted.

LePage said he’s simply too busy to attend.