Riley Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer and rising conservative voice, has once again stepped into the spotlight with her sharp critique of Vice President Kamala Harris.
The buzz began when Harris released a surprise video addressing supporters following her recent election loss to President-elect Donald Trump. The Democratic Party shared the video on X (formerly Twitter), sparking widespread confusion and ridicule from conservative commentators, as reported by Fox News [1].
In the video, Harris encouraged her supporters not to lose hope despite the election outcome. She stated, “Don’t let anybody take your power from you. You have the same power that you did before Nov. 5, and you have the same ability to engage and inspire.”
Gaines, a contributor to OutKick, wasted no time delivering her jab, re-sharing the video with the caption: “Now do you understand why she didn’t go on Joe Rogan lol.”
Now do you understand why she didn’t go on Joe Rogan lol https://t.co/j568z4sFft [2]
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) November 27, 2024 [3]
Harris’ avoidance of the popular podcast has been a sore spot, particularly as key figures like Trump [4], Vice President-elect J.D. Vance [5], and even billionaire Elon Musk [6] sat down with Rogan in the lead-up to the election.
Critics [7] argue that Harris missed a golden opportunity to connect with a broader audience, while Gaines raised the question of whether her campaign could have benefited from such an appearance.
The viral video, which reportedly originated from a donor call earlier that day, didn’t help her cause. Social media erupted [8] with mockery, with many questioning the Democratic Party’s strategy in posting it.
Gaines has built a reputation for her willingness to call out left-wing figures, and her recent posts exemplify her fiery approach. In a heated exchange with Mark Cuban, a former Harris supporter, Gaines slammed the vice president’s handling of the border crisis.
She also took aim at Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) after discovering the congresswoman had quietly removed pronouns from her X bio.
Gaines mocked Ocasio-Cortez’s advocacy for trans athletes, posting: “Acknowledging biological reality is ‘predatory’? You know what’s actually predatory? Sexualizing children and normalizing pedophilia.”
Gaines’ activism extends beyond social media, as she leads a lawsuit against the NCAA. Alongside other female athletes, she accuses the organization of violating Title IX rights through its policies on gender identity.
Gaines often shares her harrowing experiences competing against Lia Thomas [9], a transgender swimmer, recounting how she was forced to share a locker room with Thomas during the 2022 NCAA championships.
At an Oct. 23 Trump rally, Gaines detailed the humiliation she endured, saying: “I could share the grotesque details of what it was like being forced to undress, inches away from a 6-foot-4 man who watched us strip down to nothing, while he did the same, exposing his fully-intact naked male body. There are no words to describe the violation and the betrayal, the humiliation that we felt.”
Gaines has cemented her role as a conservative powerhouse, unafraid to take on the left’s sacred cows while maintaining a touch of humor to keep her audience engaged. As Harris’ star-crossed remarks continue to backfire, Gaines proves she isn’t letting up anytime soon.