Hakeem Jeffries Repeats Claim That Banning Trans Athletes Will Unleash Sexual Predators

U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., has doubled down on his controversial claim that the Defending Women and Girls in Sports Act would "unleash sexual predators" on girls across the country. This argument, which was already met with backlash earlier this year, resurfaced during comments regarding California Gov. Gavin Newsom's stance on transgender athletes in girls' sports.

Jeffries initially made this claim back in January, around the time of the House vote on the bill, and joined forces with other prominent Democrats like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. Critics were quick to note that the argument lacked any specific basis in the bill’s language, which Republicans clarified would simply require proof of gender via birth certificates—no genital inspections involved.

Despite these clarifications, Jeffries reiterated his stance when asked about Newsom’s remarks, stating, "What Democrats opposed was unleashing sexual predators on girls throughout the United States of America." His comments were met with renewed scrutiny, as even Democratic senators largely avoided this angle while filibustering the bill in the Senate earlier this week.

The bill itself, aimed at restricting transgender athletes from participating in female sports categories, passed the House with a vote of 218-206. Notably, two Texas Democrats—Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez—broke ranks to support it. However, Senate Democrats stood united in opposition, successfully blocking the bill with 45 votes against it.

Democratic senators Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., and Dick Durbin, D-Ill., expressed concerns over the bill’s implications. Cortez Masto argued that it could lead to invasive physical exams for young girls, calling it "government overreach" and a risk for increased abuse. Durbin echoed similar fears, painting a dire picture of what he described as "unspecified rights to physically inspect girls" if their gender was questioned.

The fallout from Jeffries' provocative framing of the debate has been significant. Some Democratic voters have publicly distanced themselves from the party, citing frustration with tactics they view as dishonest. Gary Francione, a prominent law professor at Rutgers, voiced his disapproval, stating, "This screamed out lack of integrity, lack of honesty." Francione and others believe the party has "lost its way" and are considering leaving it altogether.

Meanwhile, on the Republican side, former President Donald Trump has actively pushed for policies banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. His administration has threatened to withdraw federal funding from states that fail to comply, focusing on California, Minnesota, Massachusetts, and Maine. Trump reaffirmed this stance during a recent Congressional address, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasizing his commitment to holding states accountable.

Leavitt framed the issue as a "commonsense policy," citing polls indicating that a majority of Americans—including Democrats—oppose allowing transgender women to compete in female sports categories. "The president won’t back down," she declared, setting the stage for continued legal and political battles over the issue.