← The Riley Gaines Show
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- [00:01]
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This episode is brought to you by. Prime Obsession is in session. And this summer, Prime Originals have everything you want. Steamy romances, irresistible love stories, and the book to screen favorites you've already read twice off campus Elle every year. After the Love Hypothesis, Sterling Point and more slow burns, second chances, chemistry you can feel through the screen. Your next obsession is waiting. Watch only on Prime.
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News Flash. The occasional disagreement does not mean betrayal. Earlier this week, President Trump said he was not a big fan of me. And guess what? I still support him. If you missed it or if you have no earthly idea what I'm talking about, I made a TikTok video recapping it earlier this week. Let's watch. President of the United States is upset with me. Let's talk about it. I know you guys saw the post, the AI generated photo posted to President Trump's troops social account depicting him as Christ healing someone. This was me, a lifelong Bible believing Christian conservative, this morning when I saw the post like, come on President. I love the President. I support the President. I'm always in his corner. I think he's like a master troll if you will. But for the life of me, I just can't understand why he would post something like this. Here's my response to the reporters from cnn, abc, cbs. I love the President and I am so grateful and glad that he is in the Oval Office. I will continue to support him and the America first agenda. At the end of the day, I do nothing for the approval of man, no matter who that man is, including the President. Our main purpose on this earth is to glorify the Lord, our Creator, our Savior in everything that we do. That true social post missed the mark. It's now deleted. Amazing. We are imperfect people. I know I am an imperfect person. I do not get my feelings hurt. Easy. And again, I know with the President, it's not personal. We've our tiffs before. I just know that I want to spend eternity in a very real place called heaven and I would love for the President to be there as well. Like one old big eternal party in the clouds. Jesus is the way. He is the truth. He is the life. I am going to keep doing my part by speaking the truth and doing my best to lead people to Christ and supporting the America first agenda, which in turn means supporting President Trump. Okay, so that's the gist of it. Honestly, this isn't even what I wanted to spend this episode talking about, but I wanted to give you guys a little, I guess, background and history of why the President is saying that he's not a big fan of me. That happened on Monday evening, earlier this week. Of course, today is Friday. I want to be very, very clear. I still stand by everything that I said in the initial tweet and everything that I said in that video. I think the picture, the AI generated picture, whether it was created by President Trump, which it's come out that it was not him that created this picture, whether he was the initial one to click posts on that truth social thing, I still think the photo is blasphemous. It's really as simple as that. I don't believe for a single second that President Trump saw this photo and thought, wow, what a beautiful tribute to the Red Cross. I just don't. I think that's a bit naive to think that. Honestly, I think the President is too smart to think that. Now, do I think that he initially saw this as, you know, anything more than President Trump healing America? It's kind of got like the Americana background, right? Like the flag and the soldiers. Maybe that's how he saw it. And I'll be honest, it went through my mind not to comment on the post because, of course, I never want to rock the boat. Who does? Especially when it means rocking the boat with people that you really do like and people that you really do support and that get 95% of things, if not more right, in my opinion. But I thought to myself how outraged I would be if I saw that a Democrat had posted this online, the same visual, someone like Gavin Newsom, if you will. I wouldn't have thought twice about critiquing that post with the platform that I have. And to my millions of followers, I would have been outraged by that very same comparison, and so would have so many other MAGA influencers. I try my best to stay very grounded and reasonable and to think logically and critically. And I try not to have my personal relationships cloud my judgment on issues, especially the most important issues to me being my faith and Jesus Christ, okay? Our savior. So thinking of it from that perspective, I was pretty quick to fire off my tweet. And I knew what would likely come of it. And it's exactly what did come of it. People getting mad at me, people on both the left and the right. I did not think, to be clear, I did not think the President would comment and mention me by name, saying that he wasn't a big fan. Not necessarily on my bingo card. But even knowing that now, I wouldn't have changed what I wrote following the initial post and then the follow up. Video. I've received just like the most unhinged comments online from people who are just that they're chronically online. Some comments saying, you know, why did you bend the knee and make this video and feel like you have to come out and say that you support the president? Other people saying, you know, you're a closeted liberal. Some people saying, how do you claim to be a Christian and still support the president? People saying, you know, after all Trump did for you, you go and you stab him in the back. Other people saying, you know, you're just. You're kissing the feet of the president after he literally said he doesn't like you. Stop it. Just stop it. You people are not even real. You're not even real people. I'm convinced that you're not real people because no one in the real world thinks like this. It's just a sector of people who are online. Online to their detriment, because normal people understand that you can disagree with someone and their actions in one area and still support that person, especially when the person is in the Oval Office and has so much control and power over the outcomes of our daily lives. Of course I wish him the best. I think it's weird if you wouldn't. The comments online have once again reinforced the idea that you are never going to make everyone happy, regardless of what the issue is. You could be debating whether you like chocolate ice cream or vanilla ice cream, and you're still going to have loser, lame people online probably sitting in their mom's basements or in countries far, far away from the United States of America issuing you death threats over your argument because you like vanilla ice cream better. They're gonna say that that's, like, inherently racist. You white supremacists. Why don't you like chocolate ice cream? And honestly, I would say it's an issue if you. It would be problematic if you spoke to these issues, especially the cultural, social, political issues, and no one was mad at you, because at that point, it would probably mean that you don't have any real principles. You don't really have a strong foundation if everyone likes you. I think a good way, a biblical way to look at this is, you may be sugar. Guess what Jesus calls us to be? Salt. The salt of the earth. You know what salt does? Salt irritates. Salt changes the flavor of things. We were not called to be the sugar of the earth. We were called to be the salt of the earth. Salt purifies. Salt enhances, it seasons, it preserves. But guess what? Salt also does it irritates real Christianity. It does not blend in. It confronts, it rubs against the grain of the world. Does not exist to make life taste better like sugar does. It exist, exists to call people higher. It doesn't sweeten sin or the ways of this world to be accepted. We are called to confront the ways of this world. The goal was never to be accepted by the world, but to be effective in it. So my advice to you is to be authentic, to be raw. Don't feel like you have to mince your words for fear of hurting someone else's feelings, even if it's the president himself. And take the pushback. I have people all the time who say, you know, how can you withstand it? The negativity or the hatred or the President saying that he doesn't like you. And guess what? My answer is the same every time. I withstand it very easily. I really do, because I take it on the chin. I think you can listen to criticism, maybe you can learn from it, but recognize that 99% of the things the comments online, they're just not even going to be worthwhile in reading because they're coming from people who are, with no profile photo, not using their real name online. So maybe for saying your opinions are the things that you feel convicted by, maybe you'll lose followers, maybe you'll lose friends. But I have found that I don't feel nearly as anxious or worried or stressed when I speak and do exactly how I feel, exactly what I feel is the right thing to do in that moment. Actually, I feel pretty liberated. And others will appreciate you for it. I can't even tell you the amount of calls and texts that I have had from incredibly important people in leadership positions, members of Congress, the U.S. senate, advisers to the President, people in his cabinet, in his administration, other secretaries that he has appointed who have called me and said, thank you for saying that, for having the bravery to say that. You just keep going. We think it too. I appreciate that a whole lot. I really do. It means a lot to me to know that there's support and people in your corner, but why publicly am I being left hung out to dry? It's because there's really no shortage of cowardice that. But I'm just not that person. I've never been that person. I don't think I ever will be that person. And I'm not saying that to toot my own horn or say, oh, woe is me. Look how humble I am. I'm really not. I don't think I'm superior to anyone else. I don't think that at all. I think I'm just a normal person, a normal person who never sought to be in the position that I'm in. I never wanted to be in politics, quite frankly. I never wanted to do media or to be an influencer. I hate that word. It makes me feel like icky. But I know and I recognize there's a lot of power, a unique opportunity that comes with it, with the platform that I have been blessed with. And I want to continue to use that for good in everything that I do, ultimately, first and foremost, in glorifying the Lord. Right? That's why I am here on this planet Earth. That is our purpose as Christians, as human beings is to glorify the Lord in everything that we do. Okay, friends, if you have been listening to the Riley Gaines show for a while, which I hope you have, if you haven't hit that subscribe button, then you know I've talked about my friends at why Refi before and what they're doing for people who are drowning in private student loan debt is impressive to say the least. So my question for you, are those monthly payments crushing you? Is the minimum way higher than what you can even afford? Are you already behind? Or maybe even in default? You are not alone if you are. But the good news is you do not have to stay stuck. Why Refi? They specialize in refinancing private student loans that other lenders will not even look at, will not even touch. They work with you one on one to create a custom payment plan based on what you can actually afford so they can dramatically lower your monthly bill, they can slash your total costs, and they can lock you into one of the lowest fixed interest rates out there. Some people are seeing rates as low as 1%. And the best part of all of this is that they do not care about your credit score. So if private student loan debt is wrecking your finances and stealing your peace of mind, it's time to see that light at the end of the tunnel again. You can head over to why refi.com that's y r e f y.com be sure to tell them that Riley sent you. They're going to take great care of you. Like I said, not what I wanted to be doing per se. But I am grateful. I'm grateful for the opportunities and the blessings all of you who are watching this, who are listening to this, who follow me on socials, who have supported the mission over the past few years. But you have to remember, it's just not what I wanted to be doing so I don't feel the need to, you know, kiss the ring of people to do what is politically expedient because there's no ladder I'm really trying to climb. I'm just going to keep showing up in like my tank top, no mascara, like I am now, as opposed to, you know, stuffy blazer. I'm going to keep prioritizing my family. I'm going to keep speaking the truth and supporting the president. Does he have a big ego? Absolutely. Yes. I don't think that's like newsworthy headline. It's not breaking news to say that the President has a big ego to that point. Is it always a bad thing? No, I don't think so, actually. I think for the position that the President is in and leading the country, I think his ego ultimately drives how a lot of other foreign leaders especially view him and in turn how they view the United States. So actually, I think his ego is part of what makes him such a good president. It makes him effective in advocating for us and our best interests. Compare international relations under President Trump to that of President Biden or to how we could have expected from Kamala Harris. Okay, that was the alternative, which is another reason why I support and I am very proud to be a two time Trump voter, as I could not vote for Trump in 2016. I was too young and I frame it like that. Speaking to the alternative, the other side of things, what we could imagine if Kamala Harris, the lesser of two evils, was in the Oval Office, it is always going to be that, that scenario, the lesser of two evils, when you're at the ballot box, because Jesus Christ is not on the ballot box, we are imperfect people. As human beings, we are sinners. And to that point, if you agree with 100% of everything that one candidate does and 0% of everything that another candidate does, that likely means you've lost the ability to think clearly and critically. It means you're in a cult and there is no man or woman on this earth that I would blindly follow, no matter who it is. That's just the reality. Get mad at me for it, unfollow me for it, unsubscribe from the show for it. I think if that's the case, if you find yourself mad at this statement that I won't blindly follow any man, including President Trump, if that's something that makes you upset or feel offended, then you should probably look in the mirror, do like a really deep reflection and ask yourself if you're A part of a cult. I'm going to keep supporting the president, the good things that he does. I am grateful that he is in the Oval Office. Maybe you were hoping for more from me. I don't know, maybe more of a juicy response me to lash back out at the President, following him, saying that he's not a big fan of me. But I'm not going to. We've had our tiffs before, which I've never aired publicly. I've never really felt the need to. President Trump wasn't too happy with me when I initially supported DeSantis for the 2024 Republican presidential nominee. Right. Maybe some of you didn't know that. Why did I do that? Ironically enough, it's because I believe DeSantis to be a stronger Christian. The stronger Christian candidate. Of course. I saw how he governed Florida. I would love for America to look like Florida. And maybe looking back now, it was a youthful mistake to get involved in in any capacity. But I want the best Christian to lead this nation. Sue me. I don't know. Every single day, thousands of women in crisis hear the same devastating lie. That abortion is their only option, that they're completely alone, that there's no hope. But everything can change in one powerful moment. That's all it takes, is one moment. When a scared moment walks into a Preborn Network clinic and sees her baby on an ultrasound, when she hears that little tiny heartbeat for the very first time, the sign of undeniable life, her chance of choosing life doubles. Because in that moment, she realizes this just isn't just a problem to solve, but it's a precious life to protect. That's why I'm so proud to stand with my friends at preborn. They're there with love and prayer and support when a mom in need needs it most. One preborn partner said it best. Knowing my gift could save a life was the most meaningful act of love that I could ever give. That's my proposal to you guys. For just $28, you can provide one life saving ultrasound. For $140, you can give five ultrasounds. That is five real chances for life. This year, let's make it the biggest baby saving year in history. You can take a stand, you can be bold. You can speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. You can do that by calling £250 and saying baby. That is £250, baby. Or you can go to preborn.com Riley again. Preborn.com Riley. Let's save as many babies as we possibly can together. I Do think, looking back, I do think that everything has happened for a reason. And I'm so glad, as I have said many times, as I said in my tweet, that President Trump is the President of the United States, the 47 president. I do not regret my vote at all. I think it panned out exactly in the way that God intended for it to. Maybe Desantis has, you know, another opportunity later on down the road. Maybe it's someone else. Maybe it's J.D. vance, Marco Rubio. But every time I've seen the president following my endorsement of DeSantis or supporting DeSantis, he makes it very clear that he has not forgotten that I did that. And it's. It's very playful. It's very, you know, in a joking manner. And we have made our amends. Of course we have. And he laughs about it. You know, Riley, I'm better than DeSantis. You know, that old desanctimonious. What were you ever doing supporting him? We're joking about it. We actually had another tiff following, actually, the NCAA Statement of compliance when President Trump signed his executive order barring men from participating in women's sports within any educational program that receives federal funds back in February of 2025. I'm not even going to really get into that. It's kind of a long story, but basically the short of it is that President Trump was very quick to applaud the NCA for complying with this executive order when the reality was the NCAA was going behind the president's back to make it appear as if they were complying, when the reality was they weren't at all. Besides the point, the president did not like that I was denouncing the ncaa. We weren't really on the same page. I was denouncing the NCAA while he was supporting and applauding them. He thought me denouncing them made him look bad when I was just really trying to look out for the president. You get the point. I understand with the president that it's not personal. My feelings are not hurt. I don't really need to be liked. And I do think the president likes me, actually. I know he likes me. We've not going to get into that. What we've talked about privately. I know he likes me. My feelings aren't hurt. I know it's not personal. One of the many characteristics I think I was born with was that I don't feel the need to be liked. I never really have. I think I am a people pleaser to a degree, as in like, I don't want to be disliked. I don't seek that. I don't seek confrontation. But I know I have clarity, that if I know I'm doing the right thing, or at least what feels right to me, what matters to me, to my belief system, then I just really don't care. It's kind of like water off the duck's back. I don't know. Maybe I should sell merch. That's what I'm going to do. I'm going to create a merch line. It's going to be hats that say, not a big fan. You can get yours@rileygaines.com obviously I'm kidding. There are some people out there. When Trump insults them, they are very quick to monetize the situation, to create a product and sell it to people. But even still, in these situations, like I get told all the time, people leave the comment on my social pages. You're just a grifter. What does that even mean when people call you a grifter? Like, I just think moral conviction is such a foreign concept to some people that they can't understand doing something because it feels like the right thing. If I wanted to be, I guess, well received and well liked, I wouldn't have said what I said. But even still, you're called a grifter for it. And would it not be grifting to sell merchandise with insults the President made towards you? I don't know. I won't be doing any of that. It was a joke. Anyways, hope you guys enjoyed this episode. In this commentary. I had, like I said in the, the reaction video tick tock I made. I've had so many reporters just trying to bait me into saying something bad about the President or his America first agenda and how he's, you know, coming after supporters like me. You're not going to get that from me. This is my response. I hope there's a ton of CNN reporters, all the CNN reporters who reached out to me, which by the way, in the entirety of the past, what, gosh, like four years now, CNN has not reached out a single time to cover the issue of men and women's sports. Talk about me. And none of that. Okay? But now they reach out. It shows you how riddled they are with tds. I hope we have some CNN reporters watching this because here's my response in full. Appreciate you guys. Be sure to tune in for next week's episode. And as always, subscribe like comment. It means the world when you do. Thank you guys for watching today's episode of the Riley Gaines Show. I hope you loved it. And if you did, make sure you subscribe. You can do that right here so you never miss an episode. We'll see you guys next. Stitch fix. Stop shopping. Get styled. A plus on the outfit. Ms. Turner, you were about to slay parent teacher conferences. Oh, these just the most perfect fitting jeans my stylist sent me.
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Oh, hello, you who didn't set one foot in a mall and still looks amazing.
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Just share your size, style, and budget, and your stylist sends personalized looks right to your door. Stitch Fix. Get started today@stitch fix.com. to my stylist, this look is dedicated to you. Thank you. Thank you.