Riley Gaines sent a strong-worded message as she grieved the loss of his friend and fellow activist, Charlie Kirk. Gaines had previously worked with Kirk, joining him at the San Francisco State University as part of “The American Comeback Tour”. Riley Gaines, the swimmer-turned-conservative activist, continues to advocate for women's safety in sports, standing up against the participation of transgender athletes with the female athletes. Her views also align with those of US President Donald Trump, and she has publicly supported him and his political agenda. Often sharing her views on X, the former University of Kentucky swimmer was shaken by Charlie Kirk's death on September 10, 2025. Recently, Gaines pointed out the harsh truth that Kirk had to lose his life because of political disagreements. The 25-year-old also shared that his fellow conservative activist was the next best option since the offenders couldn't get Trump. Questioning the future of America after the tragic passing of Kirk and a potential future President, Riley Gaines said:"Where do we go from here? I ask that genuinely. It's not a rhetorical question. I genuinely ask. Our society is so, so, so sick and so broken. The truth is so hated. They've proven that they will kill you for disagreeing with them politically. And that's precisely what has happened here to Charlie Kirk. He was killed. They killed a man, again, a father, a husband, a Christian. They did this to him because they disagreed with him politically." (via OutKick podcast)She added:"They knew there was no one like Charlie Kirk, again, on either side. They knew they had to get him. If they couldn't get Trump, which they tried that too, the next best thing was Charlie Kirk. Everyone knew it. If you spent any amount of time, obviously watching Charlie online, but any amount of time with Charlie in person, you knew there was no doubt in your mind that he would become the president one day. I mean, that's how intelligent, that's how personable, that's how authentic and genuine he was." View this post on Instagram Instagram PostRiley Gaines once joined Charlie Kirk on his “The American Comeback Tour,” and the open-mic welcomed attendees, who debated about politics, human rights, gender, and other topics. Over 200 students protested outside the gates on that day. Riley Gaines expressed how the tragic death of the Ukrainian refugee days ago also shook herRiley Gaines at the House Republicans Speak Following Vote On The Protection Of Women And Girls In Sports Act - (Source: Getty)Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska was traveling home from work on a train in Carolina when she was fatally stabbed by DeCarlos Brown Jr. The incident sparked national outrage, with many questioning the safety of women across the country. Riley Gaines also spoke out, highlighting the growing sense of unease following the deaths of both Iryna and Kirk in such a short span of time."I'm pretty shaken, to be honest with you these past few days. I mean, just the the sheer weight of evil has been so heavy across this nation, whether it was the story coming from North Carolina of the beautiful, young, innocent Ukrainian refugee who had her life taken from her at the hands of a monster.""That in particular left me feeling uneasy. There was nothing she could have done to prevent that situation. And now to see this, a dear friend, a mentor, the best activist that we had, I mean that actually either side had," she continued in the OutKick podcast.Gaines recently addressed the controversy surrounding fans at the US Open who booed Donald Trump, after the president's arrival, accompanied by heightened security protocols, caused delays to the start of the final match.