Representative Nancy Mace, a South Carolina Republican, on Friday responded to reports that she cursed at police officers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel at a South Carolina airport.
The episode took place this week at Charleston International Airport, where an incident report says Mace berated officers, calling them “f—ing incompetent” and demanding treatment she believed befitted a member of Congress. Mace, a candidate in the 2026 South Carolina governor’s race, said Friday on X that she was using the same entrance “all members of Congress use” and accused reporters of omitting that Palmetto State Senators Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott use it as well.
On X, Mace shared a video of her arrival at the airport and appeared to address part of the story, writing, “for the FAKE NEWS: This is the entrance ALL Members of Congress use at the airport. Are you going to write that Senators Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott use the same entrance or no? Or no?”
According to a law enforcement report published by local media and reviewed by Newsweek, officers from the Charleston County Aviation Authority Police Department were told to meet Mace at 6:30 a.m. at the ticketing curb. When she didn’t appear, they found her around 7 a.m. at a trusted traveler checkpoint. The report says Mace began shouting at officers, insisting “this is no way to treat a U.S. representative” as she was escorted to her gate.
“The entire walk to gate B-8 she was cursing and complaining and often doing the same into her phone,” an officer writes in the report. “After standing in the vicinity of B-8 for several minutes with her continuing her tirade, she finally boarded the aircraft.”
South Carolina news outlet FitsNews reported that TSA supervisor Johnny Lynch said he planned to file a report with his superiors about Mace’s “unacceptable behavior.”
After the police report was made public, Cameron Morabito, Mace’s director of operations, told FitsNews, “Apparently, simply arriving at an airport now makes headlines if you’re leading the race for Governor.”
“We are forced to take the Congresswoman’s safety extremely seriously. After the world watched Charlie Kirk’s assassination, the threats against her have only intensified. Our security procedures are based solely on legitimate safety concerns, and any attempt to politicize this reality is both dangerous and reckless.”
In another X post, she accused her hometown newspaper that first reported on the incident, The Post & Courier of Charleston, of getting the story “wrong.”
“Once again, The Post and Courier gets it wrong. All federally elected officials including Senators Scott and Graham use the same Crew Member Access Point at airports. That’s the federal security protocol. Maybe check your facts next time.”
She also accused Republican rival and fellow gubernatorial candidate, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, of “spying on her” at the airport.
“I wish Alan Wilson spent as much time prosecuting p*dophiles as he does spying on me at the airport,” Mace said in another X post.
The incident adds to a string of high-profile moments for Mace, who has drawn national attention for breaking with Republican leadership on key votes while also aligning herself with President Donald Trump, calling herself “MAGA Mace” on social media. Her outspoken style has earned her both criticism and praise within her party.
“I am Trump in high heels,” she said at her campaign kick-off at the beginning of August.
The episode also comes as airport security and TSA personnel face heightened pressure amid the ongoing government shutdown, which has strained staffing and operations. It remains unclear whether TSA or airport police will take any disciplinary action related to the confrontation.
This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
