On the Sunday broadcast of ABC’s “This Week,” Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) found herself at odds with host George Stephanopoulos in a heated discussion. As the conversation turned to Mace’s recent endorsement of President Donald Trump over her fellow South Carolinian, former candidate Nikki Haley, Stephanopoulos questioned her decision given her personal history of being a crime victim.
Mace accused Stephanopoulos of attempting to “shame” her by linking her support for Trump to her own traumatic past as a crime victim. Mace reacted to the host’s impertenent question by affirming that she had been the victim of an intimate assault at the age of 16 and emphasize the life-long impact the experience has had on her. She firmly rejected the notion that her endorsement of President Trump was an endorsement of the wrongdoing Stephanopoulos implied. “I’m not going to sit here on your show and be asked a question meant to shame me,” Mace said.
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., appearing on ABC's "This Week," got into a tense exchange with host George Stephanopoulos regarding her recent endorsement of former President Donald Trump. https://t.co/fNCcAY9WiG pic.twitter.com/Meyg1Au5mV
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) March 11, 2024
The contention was sparked by Stephanopoulos’ reference to Trump’s recent legal troubles, specifically his case with author E. Jean Carroll. Carroll, who has accused Trump of assault and improper contact. She recently won a monetary award in a defamation case against President Trump in a biased and highly politicized New York court. However, Mace was quick to highlight that Trump has never been criminally convicted of anything while condemning the unseemly attempt by Stephanopoulos to connect her political endorsements to her personal trauma.
Nancy Mace, a rape victim, shreds George Stephanopoulos as he tries to shame her for supporting Trump and calling out E Jean Carroll. What scum these people are! pic.twitter.com/gC0Z4zxVo5
— Sequencer (@RealSeq16) March 11, 2024
Mace took her grievances to social media, expressing her disdain for Stephanopoulos’ approach. In a Monday morning post to X, formerly Twitter, she criticized the host’s line of questioning as offensive and inappropriate, accusing him of acting less like a journalist and more like a political operative.
There is nothing "valiant" about shaming a rape victim.
— Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) March 11, 2024
This clash underscores a broader debate within American politics, reflecting the deep divisions and personal stakes involved in political endorsements. Mace’s confrontation with Stephanopoulos raises questions about the intersection of personal history and public political stances, especially in the context of Trump’s polarizing figure.
Totally. Gross. https://t.co/NLhFAuyxnZ
— Nancy Mace (@NancyMace) March 11, 2024
The altercation between Mace and Stephanopoulos has thus become emblematic of the current political climate, where personal trauma, legal battles, and political loyalties collide. As the 2024 election approaches, such discussions will likely become increasingly prevalent, testing the boundaries between personal experiences and political allegiances.
