Donald Trump appears to have banished another ally from his job because she invited him.
The president pulled his signature on former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines, whose anti-trans athlete crusade landed her on Fox News often — and at the president’s side when he signed an executive order in February 2025 aimed at banning trans athletes. praised her for being at the “vanguard” of opposition to transgender athletes doing “great work.”
The commander-in-chief pulled a 180 on Monday when CBS News’ Norah O’Donnell asked him whether he had scrapped the widely condemned image he shared this weekend of himself as a Christ-like figure because of flak from Gaines and other conservatives.
‘I didn’t listen to Riley Gaines’ he replied. “I’m actually not a big fan of Riley.”
Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
Another MAGA political alliance seemed to bite the dust – at least from his perspective.
However, Gaines then sought redemption from Trump on X.
“I love the president and I’m so grateful to have him in the Oval Office.” she wrote. “Ultimately, I do nothing for man’s approval. Our purpose on this earth is to glorify Him in all we do.”
“The truth social post missed the mark,” she continued. “It’s now removed. Great! We’re imperfect people. I know I am. I don’t get my feelings hurt easily and I know with the president it’s really not personal.”
Gaines had previously joined the chorus of condemnation for Trump’s less-than-godly Truth Social bankruptcy amid his feud with Pope Leo. “Why?” she wrote. “Seriously, I don’t understand why he’s posting this. Is he looking for a response? Does he really think this? Anyway, two things are true. 1) a little humility would serve him well 2) God is not mocked.”
