Riley Gaines Champions Trump’s Transgender Athlete Ban, Criticizes Defiant States
Former NCAA swimmer and prominent advocate Riley Gaines has amplified her stance against transgender athletes competing in women’s and girls’ sports, publicly supporting President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at preventing such participation. Gaines, who has become a leading voice on the issue, appeared on Fox News’ "The Story With Martha McCallum" to commend U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s recent actions. Bondi has warned states that defy Trump’s order by permitting transgender athletes to participate in girls’ sports that they risk losing significant federal funding.
Gaines strongly echoed Bondi’s position, highlighting the supremacy of federal law, particularly Title IX, over state regulations. She emphasized the importance of upholding the principles of fairness and equal opportunity in women’s sports. "The Constitution is very clear that federal laws, such as Title IX, takes precedence over state laws," Gaines stated, underscoring the legal foundation for Trump’s executive order.
Despite Trump’s return to the White House, Gaines cautioned that the fight against what she perceives as "woke" ideologies is far from over. She argued that continued vigilance and proactive measures are necessary to ensure the protection of women’s sports.
Bondi’s warning specifically targeted states like California, Maine, and Minnesota, which have openly challenged Trump’s order. These states face the potential loss of substantial federal funds if they maintain policies that allow transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports. The situation in Maine has become particularly contentious, marked by a public disagreement between Governor Janet Mills and President Trump on the matter.
Adding further fuel to the debate in Maine, Republican state legislator Rep. Laurel Libby faced censure for her social media post that drew attention to a transgender high school athlete who won a girls’ pole vault competition. The censure involved a loss of her ability to vote and speak on the House floor.
Gaines vehemently defended Libby and criticized Governor Mills, accusing her of prioritizing ideological messaging over the financial well-being of the state. "[Mills] would rather lose over $5 billion in federal funds to send a message that boys deserve to and are entitled to trample on girls in the process," Gaines asserted. She expressed her admiration and gratitude for Libby’s actions, lamenting the disciplinary action taken against her for defending female athletes. Gaines emphasized the perceived injustice, contrasting the situation with oppressive regimes. "No, this didn’t happen in Afghanistan. This happened in America," she pointed out.
Beyond the actions of state-level Democrats, Gaines also directed criticism at the NCAA for its recent adjustments to its gender eligibility policy, claiming that the changes fell short of fully complying with Trump’s executive order. Gaines and other critics pointed out that the NCAA’s revised policy did not adequately address the issue of amended birth certificates, which allow individuals to change their gender designation in 44 states.
To further amplify her message, Gaines has partnered with the apparel brand XX-XY Athletics, serving as a brand ambassador. The company released a video advertisement featuring numerous college women athletes who voiced their concerns about the NCAA’s revised policy. They claimed that the new policy did not go far enough to protect the integrity of women’s sports.
"We partnered with XX-XY Athletics to release this ad directly to message (NCAA President) Charlie Baker, directly to the NCAA," Gaines explained. "They released a policy following President Trump’s executive order claiming to fall in line, but the NCAA policy is in direct conflict to Trump’s beautifully and thoroughly written executive order."
Gaines is set to take her advocacy to Minnesota, where she will be campaigning in support of a state bill that seeks to ban transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports. This initiative reflects her ongoing commitment to pushing for policies that align with her vision of fairness and protection for female athletes.
Gaines’ involvement highlights the ongoing and often heated debate surrounding transgender athletes in sports. Her perspective resonates with those who believe that allowing transgender women to compete against cisgender women undermines the integrity of women’s sports and disadvantages female athletes. Conversely, many argue that excluding transgender athletes is discriminatory and violates their rights to participate in sports. This debate raises complex questions about fairness, inclusion, and the evolving understanding of gender in society.
