After tensions rose between Texas Democratic Representative Jasmine Crockett and South Carolina Representative Nancy Mace during a House Oversight Committee hearing this week, Mace escalated things by suggesting they "take it outside."
Since November, Mace has garnered national attention for her campaign against Democratic Representative Sarah McBride of Delaware, the first openly transgender person elected to Congress.
Mace introduced a resolution to bar McBride from using women’s facilities at the Capitol complex, has posted extensively on social media—hundreds of times—targeting transgender individuals, and made multiple media appearances advocating for anti-transgender policies.
Mace has ramped up her transphobic attacks since House Speaker Mike Johnson backed her proposal and announced that transgender women would be prohibited from using women's bathroom facilities at the U.S. Capitol.
During a committee hearing on Tuesday, after Crockett proposed that Republicans reinstate a subcommittee on civil rights and civil liberties, Mace took it as an opportunity to attack Democrats for supporting transgender Americans.
Crockett responded:
“Somebody’s campaign coffers really are struggling right now, so she’s gonna keep saying ‘trans, trans, trans’, so that people will feel threatened. Child, listen—"
At this point Mace cut her off, saying:
"I am no child. Do not call me a child. I am no child. Don't even start!"
"I'm a grown woman. I am 47 years old. I've broken more glass ceilings than you have. You will not do that. I am not a child."
"Do not call me a child. I am a grown woman. If you want to take it outside, we can do that."
Given how heated their exchange got, the committee needed to be called into order, as you can see in the video below.
But their fighting didn't end there—Crockett also called Mace out on X, sharing the video of their exchange and writing:
"Nancy Mace loves the “uneducated” as Trump calls them. Please explain to me how the same damn Karen that called Cap Police on a child who shook her hand wanted to act like she wanted to fight me?! ME… the same person who has represented real killers in court."
"She’s an attention seeking loser who clearly has some fundraising goals to hit… and to be clear that is the only thing that she will hit… SN: Republicans incite violence from the highest levels of government [and] ALSO claim to be the party of law & order. The two cannot be true!"
"Do yourself a favor, decide to require better of your electeds. Last I checked, threatening members in a committee room doesn’t exactly reduce the cost of eggs."
You can see her post below.
Many echoed Crockett's criticisms and called Mace out.
The pushback ultimately forced Mace to clarify her remarks, saying she hadn’t meant to threaten her colleague:
"There’s been a lot of speculation about my intentions during a heated exchange on women’s rights earlier today on Oversight. Let me be clear: I wanted to take the conversation off the floor to have a more constructive conversation, not to fight. At no point was there any intention of causing harm to anyone."
However, she did not apologize, instead casting herself as the victim of leftist attacks:
"I was just assaulted by a pro tr*ns man a few weeks ago and am still in physical therapy for my injuries. I know firsthand how the Left is capable of doing real physical harm."
"I will not be bullied into submission, I will not be called names by my colleagues like I was today, I will not be belittled, or invalidated—especially as a rape survivor. I will always stand up for women and push back against left-wing extremism that seeks to silence our voices and dismiss our rights."
You can see her post below.
Mace has previously been called out for using her opposition to transgender rights as a fundraising opportunity.
In November, New York Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who derided Mace and her supporters for "endangering women ... girls of all kinds," said "they're doing this so Nancy Mace can make a buck and send a text and fundraise off an email."
Mace later came under fire after she shared a photo of her anti-trans wrapping paper design to lament that "no company" would print it due to its "offensive" nature. She included a photo of the design, which featured a repeating pattern alternating between her campaign logo and a graphic with the text, “No [image of balls] in our stalls.”
Ultimately she was criticized for her tantrum by transgender rights advocates and allies, with many noting it seemed intended for raising campaign funds.