Popular activist and ex-collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines has publicly offered her support for Trump once again after she previously criticized him for a controversial AI-generated image he shared on Truth Social. The Tennessee-based conservative said in a video on TikTok that she loves the president, supports him, and is “always in his corner,” but the statement, which is now going viral online, has left many people divided.
On Sunday, Trump shared a now-deleted image on his Truth Social account that appeared to depict him as a Christ-like figure healing someone. Though he now claims that the image was meant to show him “as a doctor,” the post was heavily criticized by many, including Gaines, who publicly questioned why it had been shared in the first place. In a post on X, she wrote that she could not understand Trump’s reasoning behind it, adding that “a little humility would serve him well” and that “God shall not be mocked.”
Her post drew millions of views, with some people supporting her and others criticizing her.
In Gaines’ most recent statement on TikTok, while addressing the backlash, she described herself as a “lifelong Bible-believing Christian conservative” who does not seek the “approval of man” but follows her “moral conviction.” She said that although she often agrees with Trump’s decisions on most matters, his AI post had “missed the mark.”
Nevertheless, Gaines acknowledged that people are “imperfect” and that she was still “so grateful and glad” that Trump is leading the country.
Public Reaction to Riley Gaines’ Statement
People’s reactions online have been heavily mixed. Some praised Gaines for how she is choosing to make her position known, with one person saying, “That’s an opinion I can get behind! Thank you Riley!!” Another remarked, “Proud of you, as always. This is CHARACTER. Well done.” Someone else added, “The mature way that you are handling this criticism makes me love you even more.”
Some even agreed with her initial criticism of the president’s post, leaving comments like, “I love Trump too, but yeah, he was wrong on that one,” and “Trump did wrong period. I have zero idea why he did it.”
Meanwhile, there were those who took issue with Gaines’ continued backing of Trump despite the president reportedly telling CBS News that he was not a “big fan” of hers. “All of this for a loser who doesn’t even like you,” one commenter wrote. “Trump posted an image of himself as Jesus. You call him out. He insults you. You still support him. You’re in a cult,” another said. A third added, “Wow, you people will literally kiss his [expletive] no matter what huh… You are a disgrace.”
Still, Gaines has made it clear that her stance remains unchanged and that she believes it is possible to support someone while also holding them accountable.
