Class vs. Crass

OK, the whole world knows that President Trump posted a controversial meme on his personal Truth Social account on Sunday evening, only to delete it 13 hours later after it sparked a massive firestorm from friends and critics alike.

For the record, I consider myself a friend – at least of his policies – and a sometimes critic of his occasionally boorish behavior. This was one of those times when I felt the need to weigh in and for the most part, people agreed with my measured response… although more than a few questioned my sanity, my patriotism, my conservatism, and even my Christian faith.

But at least I wasn’t personally rebuked by the President of the United States for trying to hold him accountable. Unfortunately, Riley Gaines was.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Riley, she rose to national prominence when she finished in a fifth-place tie in the 200-yard freestyle at the NCAA Division I National Championship in 2022. The person who tied her was transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, a biological male who had already won a gold medal in the 500-yard freestyle event.

In case you’re wondering, Riley Gaines is 5’5’” and weighs 130 pounds. Lia Thomas stands between 6’1” and 6’4” but no official weight has been reported.

When the medals were handed out following the race, Thomas was awarded a fifth-place one while Riley received a sixth-place medal along with a promise that a duplicate fifth-place medal would be mailed to her.

That day, a movement was born. Since then, Gaines has become an outspoken defender of the right of female athletes to compete against other female athletes… and not against biological men who have an inherent physical advantage.

As her notoriety increased, Gaines became more politically active and conservative candidates began seeking her support. Gaines endorsed and campaigned for Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) in 2022 during his successful re-election bid. She also appeared in campaign ads for U.S. Senate candidate Hershel Walker of Georgia that year.

In 2024, Gaines endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for president, but after he withdrew from the race, she switched her allegiance to President Trump and even spoke at the Republican National Convention in support of the President.

However, when President Trump posted the divisive meme this week, Gaines felt that she couldn’t remain silent and wrote the following message on X...

“Why? Seriously, I cannot understand why he'd post this. Is he looking for a response? Does he actually think this? Either way, two things are true. 1) a little humility would serve him well 2) God shall not be mocked”

Not exactly a scathing rebuke; more like a gentle wake-up call.

But apparently, it didn't set very well with the 47th President of the United States, because when he was asked by a reporter the next day if he had taken down his post in part because of Gaines’ comments, Mr. Trump replied, "I didn't listen to Riley Gaines. I'm not a big fan of Riley, actually."

Ouch! Cross “the Donald” once and you will pay a price… and a public one at that.

To her everlasting credit, Gaines did two things. First, she didn’t back down from her position. Second, she reiterated her unwavering support for the President.

"Multiple things, really, can be true here,” Gaines said the following day on her Outkick show. “No. 1, I do believe humility would serve President Trump, No. 2, God shall not be mocked, and blasphemy is not something to take lightly, and three, I don’t regret my vote at all."

"I love the President and I'm so grateful he's in the Oval Office,” Gaines wrote on X the next day. “Of course, I'll continue to support him and the America First agenda. At the end of the day, I do nothing for the approval of man. Our purpose on this earth is to glorify [God] in all we do."

Gaines then went on to address the rash of criticism she has received from MAGA supporters who think she is a traitor for what she said. "But this online base, the discourse that exists there, it makes you feel like you're the crazy person for saying those things."

You’re not crazy, Riley. I’m with you and so is Nick Freitas, a politician and social media influencer.

Freitas said he was glad Trump took the image down, adding there were three categories of people who were responding to the controversy: People who always bash Trump, MAGA supporters who thought Trump shouldn't be criticized because it made common cause with liberals, and "common sense" people who thought he shouldn't have posted it but still supported his presidency.

"Anybody that's depicting themselves in a picture where they're obviously making some sort of comparison between themselves and Christ, it is not a good idea, right?" Freitas said. "Christ is someone to be venerated."

This whole episode reminds me of May 2023 when then-candidate Trump accused Kayleigh McEnany, his former White House press secretary, of sharing wrong poll numbers on Outnumbered, the Fox News show that she was co-anchoring.

“Kayleigh ‘Milktoast’ McEnany just gave out the wrong poll numbers on FoxNews. I am 34 points up on DeSanctimonious, not 25 up,” Trump said in a Truth Social post, using his nickname for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

“While 25 is great, it’s not 34,” Trump added. “She knew the number was corrected upwards by the group that did the poll. The RINOS & Globalists can have her. FoxNews should only use REAL Stars!!!”

Respected Republicans and fellow journalists quickly rose to McEnany’s defense. Among them was Guy Benson, the political editor of Townhall.com and a frequent Fox News contributor.

“Kayleigh was one of the only voices defending Trump on CNN when he ran in 16,” Benson tweeted. “I often disagreed with her, but she was prepared, relentless & unafraid of being heavily outnumbered. She then served Trump as chief spokesperson when he was president.”

Another ardent defender was Marc Thiessen, a columnist for the Washington Post, Fox News contributor, and the former chief speechwriter for President George W. Bush.

"He’s completely unhinged," he wrote on Twitter. "Kayleigh McEnany was one of the best people to serve in his administration. He’s losing control, lashing out at anyone and everyone who does not tow his line. Sad."

Alex Clark, a media personality and podcaster associated with Turning Point USA, also weighed in. “TRASH. Kayleigh was one of THE greatest talents in the trump admin. He knows it, we know it, and conservative leaning suburban female voters know it,” she posted online.

Perhaps the most stunning defense of McEnany – and repudiation of her former boss – came from Stephanie Grisham, who served as Melania Trump’s chief of staff before becoming White House press secretary and White House communications director from July 2019 to April 2020.

“He. WILL. Turn. On. You. There is only loyalty to HIM — not the country, the constitution, his constituents, or anything/anyone else.” Ms. Grisham tweeted.

Gaines and McEnany chose to take the high road and continue to talk about President Trump in glowing terms to this very day, publicly supporting his agenda while privately licking their wounds. However, Grisham had seen and heard enough and refused to remain silent.

I don’t suppose she will be receiving a Christmas card from the White House this year. Well, maybe from Melania.

Editor's Note: Before I receive another swarm of angry emails, texts, and online comments, rest assured that - like Gaines and McEnany - I remain a staunch supporter of President Trump's America First agenda. As an evangelical Christian, I especially appreciate his pro-life, pro-family, and pro-Israel positions. However, it should never be necessary to use the words "petulant" and "president" in the same sentence or to describe the same man. Neither should constructive criticism be seen as traitorous or reason for retribution.