Kayleigh McEnany's RNC Speech Has Everyone Talking

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany may be known as the voice of the Trump administration, but during her speech at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday night, she took the opportunity to share a story few had probably heard before: her own. Before her speech, Fox News said McEnany would share a story she doesn't discuss publicly. And what she had to say surprised people.

"...I was 21 years old, I got a call that changed my life. It was my doctor, informing me that I had tested positive for the BRCAII genetic mutation, a mutation that put my chances of breast cancer at 84 percent. It was the same mutation my mom had, compelling her to get a preventative double mastectomy, removing her breast tissue, but protecting her from a disease that has taken far too many of our mothers, our sisters, our friends," she revealed. She also said that in her family alone, eight women were diagnosed with breast cancer, several when they were in their 20s (via YouTube).

Kayleigh McEnany went on to reveal that for a decade after the diagnosis, she went in for routine check-ups to ensure that the disease had not surfaced. "During these visits, I crossed paths with brave women battling cancer and fighting through chemotherapy. They were a testament to American strength. They are American Heroes," she said. In 2018, McEnany revealed that she herself opted to go through the same procedure her mother went through, and today she says she no longer fears the possibility that breast cancer might occur.

The Mayo Clinic says the BRCA gene test, which can detect mutations that allow for breast and ovarian cancers to develop, are usually offered to those who are likely to have the cancer, based on personal or family history. It is not performed on women who are exposed to average risk of breast and ovarian cancers. It also says a positive result means you have a gene mutation that increases your cancer risk , and you may want to speak with your doctor about how this can be managed. Another prominent celebrity who has come forward to talk about the BRCA genetic test is Angelina Jolie.

There are different types of BRCA testing, which costs between $475 to $4000, and may be covered by insurance if the patient is eligible (via Penn Medicine). The Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act also requires insurance companies to pay for breast reconstruction after a mastectomy (via Force).

Kayleigh McEnany, who has a law degree from Harvard and is a loyal Republican, shared her story in support of President Donald Trump, continuing, "During one of my most difficult times, I expected to have the support of my family, but I had more support than I knew. As I came out of anesthesia, one of the first calls I received was from Ivanka Trump. Days later, as I recovered, my phone rang. It was President Trump, calling to check on me. I was blown away. Here was the leader of the free world caring about me."

But she doesn't appear to have always felt positively about the president. In 2015, she appeared on CNN and Fox Business panels to criticize Trump for the comments he made about Mexican immigrants during his campaign. She had taken exception to his comments that Mexico was sending immigrants who were "rapists" and were bringing both drugs and crime into the US. 

"To me, a racist statement is a racist statement. I don't like what Donald Trump said," McEnany said on CNN in June 2015. "Donald Trump has shown himself to be a showman, I don't think he is a serious candidate. I think it is a sideshow. It's not within the mainstream of the candidates." She later attributed her comments to what she said was seeing and believing headlines that played out in the media during the early weeks of the 2016 presidential campaign.