Democratic Representative Sara Jacobs has exposed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s anti-trans hypocrisy in an iconic speech. 

Congresswoman Jacobs called out the United States Secretary of Defense for implementing the ban on trans people serving in the US military after President Donald Trump signed an executive order reinstating a ban on trans people in the military, which was repealed by former President Joe Biden in 2021. 

On Thursday (12 June), during a House Armed Services Committee hearing, Jacobs highlighted women’s contributions to the military. She told Hegseth of the exemplary records of three women in the armed forces who had received outstanding reports.

Jacobs then asked the defense secretary that “given their stellar qualifications and accomplishments and their record of surpassing standards”, did he agree that the Pentagon and the military services “should do everything they can to retain women like these?”

Hegseth responded: “I would commend the major, the aviator, and the instructor for their service”.

Jacobs then revealed that the three women in question were actually transgender women. “You are actually kicking out these three highly qualified service members solely because of their identity,” she told Hegseth.