During a rally in Salem, Virginia, on Saturday, former President Donald Trump received support from the Roanoke College women’s swim team for his stance on protecting women’s sports.

Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks to a crowd during a rally at the Macomb Community College Sports & Expo Center in Warren on Monday October 31, 2016.

Trump spoke out against policies allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports, highlighting a recent incident at Roanoke College in which a transgender athlete joined the women’s swim team.

Lily Mullens, a captain on the Roanoke swim team, addressed the crowd at the rally, expressing her gratitude to Trump for his commitment to defending women’s sports. “As female athletes, we know that men have an inherent advantage over women in sports,” Mullens said. “Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have advocated for and pushed for this anti-woman, sex-based discrimination to continue all over this country. And, point blank, it’s unfair. So, I would like to thank you, President Trump, for standing with women and promising to protect the rights of all of us.”

Celebrate Trump's Historic 2024 Victory with the Exclusive Trump 47th President Collection!

Trump echoed her sentiments, saying, “Last year, the radical left’s gender insanity arrived right here in Salem when a man was allowed to transfer onto the Roanoke College women’s swim team.”

Do you think the economy will come back roaring quickly when Trump takes office?

By completing the poll, you agree to receive emails from RVM News, occasional offers from our partners and that you've read and agree to our privacy policy and legal statement.

He called the team’s members “brave” for standing up for their rights and noted that he “didn’t notice a male on that team” when he met them backstage. “The brave members of the swim team stood up to the transgender fanatics,” he added.

According to a report by The New York Post, the NCAA, along with school officials and lawmakers, had initially told the Roanoke College women’s swim team to address the issue of the transgender athlete on their own.

When team members voiced concerns to their coach, they were reportedly told that even if every team member opposed it, the coach could still allow the transgender athlete to compete solo.

Ultimately, the transgender swimmer withdrew from the team after several team captains expressed their discomfort with the situation.

This situation is part of a broader trend of female athletes pushing back against policies allowing transgender participation in women’s sports.

Recently, five women’s college volleyball teams have forfeited matches against San Jose State University, citing the presence of transgender athlete Blaire Fleming as their reason.

These developments reflect growing discontent among women’s sports teams who argue that competing against transgender athletes poses a disadvantage.

At the Salem rally, the Roanoke College swim team members wore shirts with slogans opposing transgender athletes in women’s sports.

Mullens praised Trump for his continued support, saying, “We are so lucky to have a leader like Donald Trump — with common sense — who knows what a strong woman is and will fight for generations of girls to come.”

Trump’s remarks in Salem align with his ongoing pledge to protect women’s sports by barring biological males from competing in women’s categories.

His stance has resonated with conservative audiences and athletes who argue that current policies threaten the integrity and safety of women’s athletics.