College swimmer Riley Gaines dismissed claims that she dodged a kiss from former President Donald Trump.
Gaines previously made headlines for speaking out about her experience sharing a locker room with transgender competitor Lia Thomas.
A video of Gaines made the rounds on social media after it appeared that she dodged a kiss from Trump on stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Texas over the weekend.
In case you missed it:
Trump calls swimmer Riley Gaines up on stage and tries to give her a kiss. She flinches and pulls away. pic.twitter.com/zKSZMAEF2Y
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) August 7, 2022
Gaines later took to Instagram to respond to the rumors surrounding the video.
“What an honor to be called to share a stage with the 45th President of the United States, Donald Trump. Less than a once in a lifetime experience!” Gaines wrote.
She called the rumors a “prime example of the left media pushing propaganda to fit their narrative.”
The post continued, “In no way, shape, or form did I ‘dodge a kiss’ from Trump nor was I uncomfortable on that stage with him at any point in time. I slightly turned my head so I could hear what he was saying to me. Proof that not everything you read is factual. But keep clutching at straws, it’s almost comical.”
Additionally, Gaines commented on women competing against transgender athletes.
“Women should not be forced to share a changing space and compete against males with biological advantages that will never be completely diminished regardless of hormones taken,” Gaines argued.
She added, “If you’re delusional enough to think fairness for women is considered transphobic, you’re simply misogynistic…”
The swimmer previously detailed how uncomfortable she was changing in the same locker room as Thomas.
“That’s not something we were forewarned about, which I don’t think is right in any means, changing in a locker room with someone who has different parts,” Gaines said.
She continued, “So not only were we forced to race against a male, we were forced to change in the locker room with one.”
