Conservative activist Riley Gaines pivoted from critic to supporter within hours this week after President Donald Trump dismissed her concerns over the now-deleted Jesus post. The back and forth stems from Gaines questioning the infamous AI-generated photo Trump shared.
Riley Gaines reacts to Donald Trump’s comment about her
Despite the blunt dismissal, Riley Gaines responded on social media the same day with a message that commended Donald Trump and spoke of her Christian beliefs. “I love the President, and I’m so grateful he’s in the Oval Office,” Gaines responded on X. “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 Him in all we do. The truth social post missed the mark. It’s now deleted. Amazing!”
Gaines concluded her statement by expressing her hope for the president’s salvation and reiterating the centrality of Jesus in her life. “I’d love for Trump to be there, too. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life,” she wrote. “I’ll keep doing my part by speaking truth & doing my best to lead others to Christ.”
The brief rebuke started when religious conservatives, including Gaines, criticized the AI photo that appeared to show Trump in a way resembling Jesus Christ. When reporters questioned him about the post on April 13, Trump disputed the likeliness.
“I thought it was me as a doctor,” the president told reporters at the White House. “It’s supposed to be me as a doctor making people better, and I do make people better.” Gaines, a former collegiate swimmer and anti-trans activist, posted her reaction on X the same day. She expressed confusion over the decision to share it. “Why? Seriously, I cannot understand why he’d post this,” Gaines posted on X. “A little humility would serve him well.”
Trump brushed off the criticism from his long-time supporter by making clear that Gaines’ opinion did not influence his decision-making regarding the post. “I didn’t listen to Riley Gaines,” Trump told CBS News. “I’m not a big fan of Riley, actually.”
Originally written by Devanshi Basu on Mandatory.
