Trump invites ‘brave’ women’s swim team that ‘stood up to’ transgender athlete to rally stage

Members of the Roanoke College women’s swimming team who spoke up against a transgender athlete trying to join the team last year were invited on stage at Donald Trump’s rally in Salem, Virginia, Saturday.

The team wore shirts that said “Keep [hot dogs] out of women’s sports.”

Prior to bringing them up on stage, Trump explained the backstory of when a former member of the men’s swim team at the school attempted to join the women’s squad last year.

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After Trump’s introduction, a team captain, Lily Mullens, spoke.

“Thank you so much, President Trump. As female athletes especially, we know that men have an inherent advantage over women in sports, and due to current policies, though, men are competing against women of all ages in all 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. 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 “promise[d] to keep men out of women’s sports” at the rally.

Members of the team spoke at a press conference defending their stance just days after the athlete withdrew a request to join the team last year.

“The situation we’re seeing unfold at Roanoke College is virtually the exact same that my teammates and competitors went through in regard to Lia Thomas,” Riley Gaines said at the time.

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The appearance on the Trump stage occurred just hours after Blaire Fleming, a transgender member of the San Jose State women’s volleyball team, played against the University of New Mexico. Five schools have forfeited against SJSU due to Fleming’s presence on the team.

OutKick has since reported that SJSU suspended an assistant coach who spoke out against Fleming.

* Original Article:

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/trump-invites-brave-womens-swim-team-who-stood-up-to-transgender-athlete-rally-stage.amp