‘Bless her heart’: Nancy Mace wants to physically fight Jasmine Crockett, and the entire country couldn’t be more on board

Tensions in Congress have been high for years, but with Donald Trump’s second term looming, the atmosphere is becoming even more charged.

The controversial Cabinet picks undergoing confirmation hearings highlight the country’s troubling trajectory, but South Carolina Republican Nancy Mace stands out as a prime example.

Mace gained notoriety in late 2024 for attempting to outdo far-right rhetoric and has doubled down with her ongoing campaign against transgender people. She established herself as one of Congress’ most vocally transphobic members after attacking Representative Sarah McBride, the first openly trans member of Congress.

While Mace’s actions have won her toxic supporters, they’ve also made her enemies, including Representative Jasmine Crockett, a rising star on the left. Crockett inadvertently riled Mace while introducing an amendment to reinstate the Oversight Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. Crockett accused an unnamed colleague — clearly Mace — of fearmongering about transgender issues to boost campaign donations.

“I can see that somebody’s campaign coffers really are struggling right now, so she’s gonna keep saying ‘trans, trans, trans’ so that people will feel threatened,” Crockett remarked. She concluded her statement with a pointed “child, listen,” which set off Mace.

Mace, seated nearby, erupted, insisting she was “no child” but a “grown woman.” The exchange escalated into an argument, with Mace boasting about “breaking more glass ceilings” than Crockett and even inviting her to “take it outside” before storming off and slamming her microphone down.

Immediate Fallout
Representative Maxwell Frost of Florida quickly condemned Mace’s words as an incitement to violence and called for a review of Congressional decorum rules. Mace, in turn, tried to backpedal, claiming her “take it outside” comment was meant to suggest a constructive private conversation, not a fight.

Social media didn’t buy it. Many mocked Mace’s explanation, pointing out that “take it outside” is universally understood to mean a physical confrontation. The internet erupted with jokes, with some volunteering to “hold Jasmine Crockett’s earrings” if a fight broke out.

Adding to the spectacle, Mace’s recent appearance in an arm brace was brought into the spotlight. The brace stemmed from a handshake with a foster care advocate who asked about trans rights. Mace exaggerated the encounter into an “attack,” despite no evidence or witnesses supporting her claim.

The absurdity of Mace’s bravado was evident, with critics noting she’d likely label any confrontation with Crockett as “terrorism” and show up in a full body cast. Thankfully, the confrontation remained a war of words rather than physical action.