Donald Trump and swimmer Riley Gaines at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Saturday in Dallas.The ex-president was speaking about defending parental rights when it comes to teaching children topics in school that are related to sexual identity and sexual orientation, before he switched to weighing in on women's sports and the transgender community."We will keep men out of women's sports," he told the crowd at CPAC, before calling Gaines to the stage as he described her as a "great champion" and a "beautiful" swimmer.Trump tried to kiss her on the cheek when she approached the podium, but she appeared in the eyes of many observers to experience some discomfort with it.
Political commentator and attorney Ron Filipkowski described her as flinching and pulling away from the ex-president on Twitter on Sunday.Trump calls swimmer Riley Gaines up on stage and tries to give her a kiss.
She flinches and pulls away. pic.twitter.com/zKSZMAEF2YGaines did, however, seem more comfortable in the rest of her appearance as she spoke about transgender athletes participating in women's sports.
She also interacted more with Trump, smiling and shaking his hand."Riley Gaines, the former SEC champion swimmer, comes up on stage and awkwardly manages to avoid a kiss from Trump.