Former NCAA swimmer and OutKick host Riley Gaines issued a statement on Wednesday addressing states that are defying President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at preventing transgender athletes from competing in women’s and girls’ sports. During her appearance on Fox News’ “The Story With Martha McCallum,” Gaines commended U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi for her warning to states that have not adhered to the order, threatening to cut federal funding. “The Constitution clearly states that federal laws, such as Title IX, take precedence over state laws,” Gaines remarked. “Even with President Trump potentially returning to the White House, the battle against woke culture is far from over.”
Bondi’s warning was directed at California, Maine, and Minnesota, which have openly resisted Trump’s directive, indicating they risk losing federal funding if they continue to permit transgender athletes in girls’ sports. Maine has become a focal point in this debate, particularly following a public dispute between Governor Janet Mills and Trump. Additionally, Republican Maine state legislator Rep. Laurel Libby faced censure for highlighting a transgender high school athlete who won a girls’ pole vault competition.
Gaines expressed her support for Libby and criticized Mills, stating, “[Mills] would rather forfeit over $5 billion in federal funds to convey that boys have the right to overshadow girls.” She added, “I commend and am incredibly proud of Rep. Libby. It’s disheartening to see a female representative lose her voice and voting rights in the House for standing up for girls and women. This isn’t happening in Afghanistan; it’s happening in America.”
In addition to the actions of Democrats in states like Maine and California, the NCAA has faced backlash for its recent changes to its gender eligibility policy in response to Trump’s order. Critics, including Gaines, have noted that the NCAA’s new policy fails to consider amended birth certificates, as 44 states in the U.S. allow for gender changes on these documents. Gaines, who is a brand ambassador for XX-XY Athletics, announced that the company released a video featuring several college female athletes voicing their concerns about the NCAA’s policy, arguing that it does not go far enough.
“We collaborated with XX-XY Athletics to produce this ad aimed directly at NCAA President Charlie Baker,” Gaines stated. “The NCAA’s policy, which was introduced following President Trump’s executive order, contradicts the comprehensive and well-articulated nature of that order.” Gaines plans to travel to Minnesota next week to advocate for a state bill that seeks to ban transgender athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s sports.