CNN analyst S.E. Cupp didn’t hold back in her critique of Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) during a discussion on The Source with Kaitlan Collins. Mace has come under fire for targeting Rep.-elect Sarah McBride (D-DE), who recently became the first transgender woman elected to Congress. The conflict centers on Mace’s push for legislation banning transgender women from using women’s restrooms in the Capitol.
Mace has doubled down on the issue, proposing similar bills in Congress. In a Fox News interview, she equated a transgender woman using the same locker room as her to “assault.” This hardline stance comes despite Mace identifying herself as “pro-transgender rights” just last year, a clip of which was highlighted during the CNN segment.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has already implemented a bathroom block in the Capitol, further fueling the controversy. However, Mace’s crusade and relentless social media activity became a focus of critique during the CNN discussion. Cupp described Mace’s actions as excessive, saying, “The problem is Nancy Mace went crazy. It’s just deranged to do 326 tweets in 72 hours.”
This remark drew laughter from fellow panelist Alyssa Farah Griffin. Cupp went on to call Mace’s efforts “performative,” pointing out that McBride, like all members of Congress, will have a private bathroom in her office, making the debate largely symbolic.
The analyst also described Mace’s campaign as “cruel” and “punitive,” suggesting it was designed to antagonize rather than address meaningful policy. “It’s to be on display to be punitive,” Cupp asserted, adding that while there are legitimate debates about trans rights, Mace’s approach is “just gross.”
Griffin also criticized Mace’s behavior, accusing her of trying to provoke McBride, who she argued is focused on substantive issues. “McBride campaigned on pocketbook issues for Delaware voters — not to be a spokesperson for any movement,” Griffin noted. She further called Mace’s actions “insulting to the community” and highlighted her inconsistent stances on various topics, including her support for Donald Trump.
The bathroom controversy, fueled by Mace’s relentless pursuit, has drawn sharp criticism and opened broader conversations about performative politics and the need for substantive policy discussions on trans rights.