EXCLUSIVE: Republican Study Committee Set To Host Riley Gaines

Former college swimmer and women’s rights advocate Riley Gaines is slated to speak at a members’ lunch on Wednesday, The Daily Wire has learned.

Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer, became the face of the fight to save women’s sports after competing against trans-identifying male swimmer Lia Thomas. Wednesday’s event is the latest point of collaboration between Gaines and the committee, whose members have led the charge on protecting women’s sports and spaces.

Gaines was on Capitol Hill last month when the House of Representatives passed the Protection of Women and Girls Act, which was introduced by Republican Study Committee member Rep. Greg Steube (FL).

“Americans are united in our belief that men have no place in women’s sports, whether it’s breaking records, entering locker rooms, or stealing scholarship opportunities,” Steube said at the time. “Denying biological truth erases fairness in sports and puts women’s safety and opportunities at risk.”

Gaines praised House Republicans for passing the bill, which she said brings the country “one step closer to ensuring no more women lose trophies, roster spots, playing time, scholarships, or fair competition to men in their own sport.”

As The Daily Wire’s Mary Margaret Olohan chronicled, Gaines was one of several activists whose work helped bring President Donald Trump around on the transgender issue. Trump, who shied away from the issue during his 2020 campaign, made it a pillar of his 2024 race — a move that helped propel him to a landslide victory.

Since taking office, Trump has taken several steps to protect biological women. On his first day in office, he signed an executive order stipulating it was the official policy of the United States that there are only two genders. Just days later, he signed an order banning taxpayer-funded gender transitions for minors, a move that has already stopped hospitals from performing these often irreversible procedures.

Gaines made headlines once again this week thanks to her appearance in an ad showcasing her and other female athletes who have faced criticism for defending women’s sports.

This is the first and likely the last time I’ll retweet an ad, but I love it. pic.twitter.com/oALpr5c10v

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) February 3, 2025

J.K. Rowling, who has also come under fire for her defense of biological women, shared the ad on X, saying, “This is the first and likely the last time I’ll retweet an ad, but I love it.”

The Republican Study Committee is viewed as the policy engine of House Republicans. Its decision to host Gaines