Former volleyball player Payton McNabb was at President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress on Tuesday night.
She was honored by the president for overcoming injuries she received at the hands of a transgender opponent in 2022, according to a report on Fox News.
Those injuries included a concussion, brain bleed and permanent whiplash.
Another injury came Tuesday night at the hands of Democratic lawmakers — heartbreak.
The 19-year-old McNabb has become advocate for separating males and females in sports competitions. Trump reiterated his promise to cut federal funding to U.S. schools that allow trans athletes to compete against girls.
As Trump cast a spotlight on McNabb, Democrat fell silent as Republicans appreciated what she has been able to accomplish.
The snub, McNabb said, was both “heartbreaking” and expected.
“Last night, just overall, the Democrat Party was so disrespectful,” McNabb told Fox News. “And they didn’t stand up for any of the guests, they didn’t stand up for DJ Daniel, who is the young boy who survived brain cancer, they didn’t stand up for Laken Riley’s family, whose daughter literally suffered a traumatic death that should have never happened, and every other guest that was there had some sort of powerful story, and they didn’t clap for any of that.”
“So it was heartbreaking, and honestly I wish I could say I was surprised, but I’m not,” she added.
“The Democrat party failed women. They don’t care,” McNabb said. “Even with daughters of their own, the fact that they did not get this bill through is just completely heartbreaking. I’m not the only story, there are so many female athletes who have shared their story, and it’s not like they don’t know. It’s insane that this is the hill they’re willing to die on. “
The bill McNabb was referring to the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which nearly all Senate Democrats blocked.
The law would have kept trans athletes out of women’s and girls’ sports.
Many states have refused to comply with Trump’s executive order on the topic.
“It’s just sad… it’s just embarrassing,” she said.
Despite the actions by Democrats, McNabb said she was “extremely grateful” to attend the event.
“It was unbelievable. This is the type of thing that I’m going to remember for the rest of my life,” McNabb said.
