Trump Calls Democrats 'Crazy' for Not Applauding Ban on Teen Gender Transitions

Voters have sharply divided reactions to the president's remarks during the State of the Union address.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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During his State of the Union address, President Donald Trump ripped Democrats as "crazy" for not applauding his call for a ban on school-initiated gender transitions for minors without parental consent. A live panel of voters showed Republicans and some Independents reacting positively to Trump's comments, while Democrats trended negatively.

Why it matters

The debate over transgender youth policies has become a major political flashpoint, with conservatives pushing for greater parental control and liberals arguing for protecting the rights of transgender students. Trump's remarks highlighted the deep partisan divide on this issue and the strong emotions it evokes.

The details

Trump highlighted the case of Sage Blair, a Virginia teenager whose family sued her school for allegedly socially transitioning her to male without parental knowledge. The president praised Blair as a "proud and wonderful young woman" who now has a scholarship to Liberty University. Trump called for an immediate ban on states "ripping children from their parents' arms and transitioning them to a new gender against the parents' will."

  • Trump made the remarks during his 2026 State of the Union address on February 25.

The players

Donald Trump

The 45th President of the United States who called for a ban on school-initiated gender transitions for minors without parental consent during his State of the Union address.

Sage Blair

A Virginia teenager whose family filed a lawsuit alleging her school socially transitioned her to male without parental knowledge, leading to her becoming a victim of sex trafficking.

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What’s next

The judge in the Sage Blair case will decide on Tuesday whether to allow her school to continue its gender transition policies without parental consent.

The takeaway

This debate over transgender youth policies has become deeply polarized, with conservatives pushing for greater parental control and liberals arguing for protecting the rights of transgender students. Trump's remarks highlighted the strong emotions this issue evokes and the need for nuanced solutions that balance the interests of families, schools, and transgender youth.