Women’s rights defender Riley Gaines said death threats against her have become so severe that she has been wrapping her newborn daughter in a bulletproof blanket.
The 25-year-old former collegiate swimmer — who welcomed her first child, Margot, in September — attended Tuesday’s Supreme Court arguments in a case that could bar transgender women from competing in female sports.
Gaines said having her newborn by her side underscored how much her life has changed since stepping into the national spotlight and the risks that come with her controversial, high-profile advocacy, she told the hosts of Fox News’ “Outnumbered” on Wednesday.
“She was there with me on the Supreme Court steps,” Gaines said.
“And honestly, just as you said, there’s a level of emotion to it, especially when you have to consider the fact that you have a 3-month-old baby that you have to wrap in a bulletproof blanket because of the threats that were present there yesterday.”
Bulletproof blankets marketed for babies typically cost between $500 and $2,000, depending on the level of ballistic protection, materials used and brand.
The blankets — along with similar products such as bulletproof backpacks and portable Kevlar shields — have become increasingly visible in recent years, particularly following high-profile mass shootings and assassinations.
Gaines said little Margot “goes everywhere” with her and has already traveled to 16 states and met President Trump.
“She’s gonna be super dangerous at two truths and a lie one day,” Gaines quipped.
The former athlete also slammed Democrats and their ideology during Tuesday’s hearing over two cases brought by transgender athletes challenging state bans on competing in women’s sports.
“All these Democrats and their insane policies and the things they support — I think 130 Democrats signed a brief supporting the boys in the case,” she said.
“They think they are giving the middle finger to President Trump. That’s not who they are giving the middle finger to. They are giving the middle finger to my little baby girl.”
Gaines rose to national prominence after criticizing the NCAA for allowing former transgender University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas to compete in women’s sports. She has since become a leading opponent of transgender athletes competing in women’s and girls’ sports.
The Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in two high-profile cases — Little v. Hecox and West Virginia v. B.P.J.
Idaho and West Virginia are among nearly 30 states that have enacted laws barring transgender students from competing on girls’ sports teams.
Those laws were blocked in court following successful legal challenges brought by transgender athletes in 2020 and 2021.
The justices examined whether Title IX — the landmark federal law banning sex discrimination in education — applies to the inclusion cases.
Both transgender athletes are represented by the American Civil Liberties Union.
Gaines told Fox News’ “Faulkner Focus” on Tuesday, ahead of the hearing, that opponents of the Save Women’s Sports movement were hurting girls like her daughter.
“The past three months now, it’s shifted my perspective on everything,” Gaines said.
“The things you thought you would never care about, they feel critical. And things that, at one point, you cared very deeply about, they seem mundane. My daughter — she’ll be right here with me tomorrow on the Supreme Court steps, because that’s who we’re fighting for.”
With Post wires
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