Trump objectifies anti-trans WNBA player Sophie Cunningham while insulting her athletic ability

Amid recent national demonstrations over sexual assault and the “Cornell 7,” as well as strong backlash against comedian Shane Gillis’s unfunny and sexist Saturday Night Live monologue, President Donald Trump picked an interesting time to make more demeaning remarks about women — even women on his side of the political spectrum.

At a rally in Youngstown, Ohio, on Monday night, Trump called WNBA player Sophie Cunningham “a beautiful young woman,” but also singled out her scoring average this season, according to People. “You probably wouldn’t mind her on the team, not to help you with points, but to help you with attendance. The attendance would be great.”

“You have a lot of men wanting to go and watch her. She’s beautiful,” Trump added, before appearing to backtrack. “You’re not allowed to say that anymore, however, as a politician. Please, please, let me take it back. Anytime a politician says a woman is beautiful, that’s generally the end of his political career in the modern-day politic world.”

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Cunningham, who had her lowest scoring average in five years this season, identifies as a Christian and has been a vocal opponent of transgender women’s participation in sports. While she did not directly respond to Trump’s comments, she reshared an Instagram story Monday night that included a quote from a Bible verse: “Encourage and build up one another.” Cunningham did not respond to People for comment.

Cunningham’s name initially came up at the rally because of her views on transgender athletes, which align with the Trump administration’s. “I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans,” she told ESPN in July. “And I’m like, ‘I never once said that.’”

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She added, “I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”

Shortly afterward, fans at some games wore T-shirts that read, “Trans kids belong in sports,” while other fans held up signs that read, “Love is truth” and “Thank you Sophie.” After a recent game against the Lynx, Cunningham posed for a photo with conservative anti-trans activist Riley Gaines and former Levi’s executive Jennifer Sey, both wearing shirts with anti-trans messages. Cunningham held up Gaines’ sign, which read: “Sophie, thank you. -A girl mom.”