House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) is facing renewed criticism after making controversial remarks regarding the Defending Women and Girls in Sports Act.

The bill, which aims to protect female athletes from competing against biological males, has been a source of division between Republicans and Democrats, with Jeffries and his party staunchly opposing it.

During a press conference on Thursday, Jeffries reiterated a claim that the legislation would “unleash sexual predators on girls throughout the United States of America.”

His statement echoed similar remarks he made when the House voted on the bill on January 14, aligning with other prominent Democrats, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).

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Jeffries' comments resurfaced after California Gov. Gavin Newsom recently admitted that allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports was “unfair.”

When asked about Newsom’s remarks, Jeffries responded, “I haven’t seen [Newsom’s] comments. What Democrats opposed was unleashing sexual predators on girls throughout the United States of America.”

Reporter: Gavin Newsom said Democrats were in the wrong by allowing men to play women’s sports. What’s your response?

Jeffries: “What Democrats opposed was unleashing sexual predators on girls throughout the United States.” 🧐 pic.twitter.com/kRMQhP3Y5q — Greg Price (@greg_price11) March 6, 2025

His argument drew immediate backlash, particularly as it lacked any substantiated evidence.

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While Democrats have consistently opposed efforts to restrict biological males from participating in women’s sports, Jeffries’ reasoning was criticized as being disconnected from the issue at hand.

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The Defending Women and Girls in Sports Act has been a key Republican-led effort to protect the integrity of women’s athletics.

Supporters of the bill argue that allowing transgender athletes to compete in female sports creates an unfair advantage and undermines decades of progress in women’s sports.

The legislation has gained traction following high-profile cases in which biologically male athletes have dominated female competitions.

Jeffries' stance has also caused divisions within his own party.

Some Democratic voters voiced frustration over the leadership’s position, with criticism mounting that the party is out of touch with mainstream concerns.

The argument that barring biological males from female sports would somehow enable sexual predators has been widely dismissed by opponents as unfounded.

Despite this, House Democrats overwhelmingly voted against the bill in January, and the debate has remained contentious as the legislation moved through the Senate.

The Senate ultimately voted on the measure Monday, with Republicans continuing to push for protections for female athletes.

The controversy adds to a series of recent struggles for House Democrats, particularly in the wake of their response to President Donald Trump’s address to Congress.

The party has faced criticism for lacking a cohesive message, with prominent Democrats engaging in performative protests rather than offering substantive policy alternatives.

With Jeffries doubling down on his argument, the debate over fairness in women’s sports is likely to continue.

Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers have made clear that they will continue to push for policies that maintain biological distinctions in athletic competition, arguing that science and fairness should take precedence over political ideology.

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