The political fallout from the historic ousting of Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House continues to reverberate through the Republican party, with the former leader recently leveling sharp, personal criticism against one of the GOP members who facilitated his removal. During a television appearance, McCarthy singled out Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, describing her as one of the “least ethical” and “least respected” members of Congress and stating he hopes she gets “the help she needs.”
The pointed remarks came during an interview on Fox News with host Jesse Watters. While the segment was initially framed around a discussion of potential future Democratic leaders, McCarthy pivoted to criticize members of his own party. He first took aim at Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), referencing his removal from the House Intelligence Committee due to past associations with a suspected Chinese spy. “When I became speaker, I tried to raise the bar in Congress,” McCarthy stated. “It’s not a high bar, but the first thing I did was remove Swalwell from the [House Intelligence] committee. If you get top-secret knowledge, the very least is you can’t sleep with a Chinese spy.”
It was in this context that McCarthy introduced Mace into the conversation, drawing a direct comparison between her and Swalwell. “I can only hope the Democrats nominate him because every time in Congress [when] we would vote on a bipartisan basis who was the least ethical, who was the least respected, it was always a tie between Swalwell and Nancy Mace,” the former speaker asserted. “And I just don’t see these people leading anywhere.”
When the host expressed surprise, suggesting McCarthy must “hate Nancy Mace,” the former speaker demurred, framing his comments as a matter of concern rather than animosity. “No, no, I don’t. I want her to get the help she needs,” he responded. “I just don’t want to put her in a position that she makes decisions.”
This public exchange is the latest chapter in a bitter intra-party feud that began in October 2023. Mace joined a small faction of seven other Republicans, led by Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, in a motion to vacate the chair, successfully stripping McCarthy of the speakership. This group, which McCarthy later dubbed the “crazy eight,” triggered a chaotic period in the House as Republicans struggled to elect a new leader.
In the months following his ouster, McCarthy embarked on what was widely described as a “revenge tour,” using his political capital and fundraising network to target the Republicans who voted against him. Mace was a primary target. Despite McCarthy and his allies raising and spending over $5 million to support her primary challenger, Catherine Templeton, Mace secured a decisive victory in her party’s nomination and went on to win re-election to her House seat. The failed effort underscored Mace’s resilient political standing in her district, even in the face of opposition from the former highest-ranking House Republican.
Mace’s political identity has undergone a significant transformation. Initially elected as a moderate who preached bipartisanship and at times criticized former President Donald Trump, she has since shifted her alignment to become a staunch supporter of the MAGA movement and a prominent culture warrior. This evolution has been accompanied by a deliberate and aggressive media strategy. A staff handbook that became public revealed that Mace, who referred to herself as “National Nancy,” set stringent “quotas” for her staff, requiring them to book her for “on a national TV outlet between one and three times per day.”
This public-facing approach appears to have come at a social cost within the halls of Congress. In a recent appearance on Newsmax, Mace offered a candid glimpse into her life on Capitol Hill, stating, “I’m an island of one. I don’t get invited to parties. I don’t have any friends. I have a dog.”
McCarthy is not the only political opponent to have publicly suggested Mace seek professional help. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) made a similar remark after Mace led a failed effort to censure her over comments about conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Omar posted, “Would love to see you get the help you need next. You belong in rehab, not Congress.” The recurring nature of such comments highlights the contentious political style that has come to define Mace’s tenure. The ongoing war of words between her and McCarthy serves as a potent symbol of the deep divisions and lingering resentments that continue to shape the Republican conference.
