Secretary of Education Linda McMahon went on Fox News to explain why she believes transgender student-athletes shouldn’t be allowed to participate in school sports, and she completely messed up the explanation of her only example.
McMahon, the former WWE CEO whom the president appointed to run the Department of Education, tried to explain the story of Riley Gaines in a Fox News appearance discussing the administration’s investigation into California state law on trans student-athletes.
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Gaines tied for fifth place with trans swimmer Lia Thomas at a swim meet several years ago.
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“Not only do they have an unfair advantage physically, but also it’s a safety issue as well,” McMahon stated. “When you have seen Riley Gaines talk about how hard she trained and competed and then was beaten, you know, in her race. But she would have clearly won if she’d been just competing against women.”
If Thomas had not competed in that race, Gaines would have still come in fifth place. Also, McMahon didn’t explain how Gaines’ story proved that there are safety issues when it comes to trans girls participating in school sports.
McMahon was mocked on social media for bringing up Gaines’ story and then not even getting the basics of it right, especially since Gaines has made an entire post-college career out of complaining about getting fifth place in that race.
Clearly won? She came in 5th place. MAGAs are happy about defunding education yet can’t count for shit.
pic.twitter.com/bm17MRIxjI
— Dana (@Dana55692117) May 28, 2025
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