by JESSICA A. BOTELHO | The National News Desk
Wed, March 5th 2025 at 2:09 PM
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 04: Payton McNabb (C) and Second Lady Usha Vance (R) attend U.S. President Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 04, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump was expected to address Congress on his early achievements of his presidency and his upcoming legislative agenda. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON (TNND) — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described her boss as “the president for women” during her latest news briefing at the White House.
Leavitt made the comment Wednesday as she was discussing Payton McNabb, a former high school volleyball player who said she was seriously hurt when when a transgender athlete slammed the ball into her face.
“(Her) heart wrenching story motivated Trump to end men in women’s sports,” Leavitt said.
She later added that President Donald Trump is “the president for women.”
McNabb was a student athlete at Hiwassee Dam High School in North Carolina a few years ago when another athlete spiked the ball. It hit McNabb in the head, causing a brain bleed, a concussion and a neck injury, as well as ending her athletic career.
McNabb attended Tuesday night’s address, with photos showing her clapping and thanking Trump for doing everything he can to keep men out of women’s sports.
“Such an incredible honor to be a guest of @POTUS and @MELANIATRUMP for the State of the Union,” McNabb wrote on X ahead of the event. “I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to be present and to have my story recognized as part of the fight to protect women’s sports. Thank you for giving a voice to this issue!!!”
During the news briefing, Leavitt said is was “shameful” that Democrats refused to applaud or stand when Trump acknowledged McNabb and his other guests. While Republicans got on their feet and applauded, Democrats sat in apparent disgust.
“Democrats couldn’t stand to keep men out of women’s sports. They couldn’t even clap for a girl who got her head smashed in by a man on a volleyball court,” Leavitt said.
“One of the only things that could get Democrats off their feet last night was cheering for Ukraine, not for America,” Leavitt added. “Last night was a very clarifying moment for our country. the Democrats exposed themselves as the party of insanity and hate, the party that wants to put America last. They’ve allowed their Trump derangement syndrome to stop them from celebrating America and our people and we will not allow them to forget that.”
As Trump delivered his address, he said he and his administration are “getting wokeness out of our schools and military.” He added that “we feel so much better for it.”
He also had a special message for children and young adults.
“You are perfect exactly the way God made you,” said Trump, who recently signed the “No Men in Women’s Sports” executive order.
