Riley Gaines has told President Trump to find some humility in a furious outburst after he shared a picture of himself as Jesus on Truth Social.
Gaines, a former swimmer, has been one of Trump’s biggest supporters during his path to a second term in the White House and his efforts to ban trans athletes from women’s sports. She has been a figurehead of that movement ever since she was beaten by trans athlete Lia Thomas in a 2022 championship race.
But now, Gaines has publicly criticized the President for his controversial Truth Social post on Sunday night as part of an escalating feud with Pope Leo, the head of the Catholic Church.
Responding to the image, Gaines wrote on Monday morning: ‘Why? Seriously, I cannot understand why he’d post this. Is he looking for a response? Does he actually think this?’
The 25-year-old continued: ‘Either way, two things are true. 1) a little humility would serve him well. 2) God shall not be mocked.’
It marks a significant shift for Gaines. In February 2025, Trump had her visit the White House to witness him sign an executive order banning trans athletes from women’s sports.
Riley Gaines has slammed President Trump for sharing an AI image of himself as Jesus
Trump sparked widespread outrage by sharing the post on Truth Social on Sunday evening
Gaines slammed Trump and told the President that he needs some humility in a brutal message
‘We’re honored to be joined today by many of the advocates of women’s sports, including the brave swimmer at the forefront of this battle in Riley Gaines,’ Trump said.
He then turned and smiled at her before adding: ‘What heart. Riley was a 12-time all American who sacrificed countless hours in the pool for a chance at the title. But then the league forced her to share a spot with a male swimmer… it was a very unfair situation.
‘I want to thank Riley, she really has been at forefront. People would say that she was the leader. Great job, Riley.’
Gaines also spoke at Republican rallies in support of Trump when he was on the campaign trail before his November 2024 election triumph.
Last summer, Gaines even got into a social media feud with US Olympic great Simone Biles over trans athletes, before the American gymnast eventually apologized for attacking her on social media.
Last June, Biles said Gaines ‘looks like a man’ and should be ‘uplifting the trans community’ after Gaines had used her own platform to attack a teenage trans athlete in California.
Biles later said sorry for making their disagreement personal and Gaines soon said on X that she had accepted the apology.
Since Trump’s return to office, Gaines has continued to be a big supporter of his work – making her decision to speak out on Monday all the more striking.
Trump has spoken highly of Gaines in times gone by, making her fury all the more striking
Gaines has been a long-standing spokesperson against trans athletes in women’s sports
Trump, meanwhile, has been hitting out after the Catholic Church criticized the White House over the war with Iran.
In a fiery rant on Truth Social, Trump branded the pontiff ‘WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy’.
It came after the President claimed that Leo, 70, was only made Pope ‘because he was an American’, adding: ‘If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.’
The Pope said on Monday that he plans to continue speaking out against war, telling Reuters: ‘I don’t want to get into a debate with him.’
