Meet Payton McNabb, the volleyball player mentioned in Donald Trump's speech to Congress: the 19-year-old was injured by a transgender opponent at school and calls The Apprentice alum her ‘bestie'
Volleyball player Payton McNabb – who was severely injured by a transgender opponent during a game in 2022 – was invited as a special guest of President Donald Trump at a joint address to Congress on Tuesday.
Payton McNabb was a special guest of Donald Trump in Congress earlier this week. Photo: @payton.mcnabbb/Instagram
The former North Carolina high school athlete called out Democrats for 'failing women', writes the New York Post.
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'When her girls'
volleyball match was invaded by a male,' Trump claimed upon introducing McNabb to the audience, while incorrectly gendering her opponent. 'He smashed the ball so hard in Payton's face, causing a traumatic brain injury, partially paralysing her right side and ending her athletic career.'
Trump's administration has taken a hard anti-trans stance, from threatening to issue permanent visa bans against individuals 'misrepresenting' their birth sex on visa applications, to attempting to pull federal funding from medical organisations providing gender-affirming care to transgender youth.
The 19-year-old said she was happy to have her story highlighted by the president. 'What an incredible honour,' McNabb told the New York Post. 'I was just so honoured to even be there as a guest of the president and first lady, that's just unreal – such a surreal moment I'll never forget,' she added. 'Not only getting to be there, but him actually shouting me out and sharing my story was just amazing,' she told the outlet. 'It really fills me up because I'm so thankful we finally have a president that is willing to do that and take this issue for what it is.'
Here's what we know about Payton McNabb.
What is Payton McNabb's background?
Payton McNabb is currently studying for a degree in communications. Photo: @payton.mcnabbb/Instagram
McNabb was a 17-year-old junior at Hiwassee Dam High School in Murphy, North Carolina, at the time of her injury, per Fox 5 Atlanta. She is now reportedly an undergraduate student pursuing a degree in communications at Western Carolina University.
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