Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) fired back at former Congressman Trey Gowdy Thursday night after he criticized her for voting against the Trump-backed government funding bill during an appearance on Fox News’ Special Report with Bret Baier. Gowdy, a fellow South Carolinian, had called out Mace and others for opposing the bill, which was designed to temporarily extend government funding while implementing some conservative priorities.
Gowdy lamented the current state of House Republicans, attributing their struggles to the ousting of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. “They never should have gotten rid of Kevin,” he said. Gowdy also took aim at former Trump Attorney General nominee Matt Gaetz for leading the effort to remove McCarthy, adding, “Nancy Mace would not be in the House if it weren’t for Donald Trump, and she can’t vote the way that he asked her to today?”
Mace wasn’t about to let Gowdy’s comments go unanswered. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), she delivered a stinging rebuke, writing, “You let Hillary Clinton off the hook for Benghazi. Sit your a** back down.” The reference was a sharp jab at Gowdy’s tenure as chair of the House committee investigating the 2012 Benghazi attack, which many conservatives criticized for failing to hold Clinton accountable despite significant evidence of misconduct.
Gaetz, who has also clashed with Gowdy in the past, chimed in to support Mace’s takedown, responding simply, “True!”
The tension comes as Mace continues to make waves in the House for her independent streak, most recently earning praise from conservatives for her successful push to keep biological men out of women’s restrooms on Capitol Hill. Known for her sharp wit, Mace escalated her trolling of Gowdy, posting a side-by-side photo comparing him to controversial soccer player Megan Rapinoe, sarcastically asking, “Which bathroom do we think Trey Gowdy uses?”
Mace later appeared on Jesse Watters Primetime to explain her vote against the funding bill, stating her opposition to continuing Biden-era spending levels well into Trump’s presidency. “The CR tonight spent the same exact amount of money today as it did in the one yesterday,” Mace said. “I don’t want to continue Joe Biden levels of spending months into Trump’s presidency.”
The back-and-forth highlights a growing rift among Republicans, with members like Mace refusing to toe the line if it means compromising conservative values. While Gowdy continues to defend establishment decisions, Mace’s fiery independence has further cemented her position as a leading voice for fiscal responsibility within the GOP.
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