McCarthy Says Nancy Mace Needs “Help” as He Labels Her Among Congress’s “Least Ethical”
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is escalating his long-running feud with Rep. Nancy Mace, telling Fox News he hopes the South Carolina Republican “gets the help she needs” while calling her among the “least ethical” and “least respected” members of Congress. According to reporting, McCarthy made the remarks during a recent appearance with host Jesse Watters, where he was initially discussing Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell but pivoted to revive his grievances against Mace.
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McCarthy said Congress would regularly vote internally on who was “least ethical,” claiming Mace routinely tied with Swalwell. When Watters asked whether he hated her, McCarthy replied that he did not, adding instead: “I want her to get the help she needs. I just don’t want to put her in a position that she makes decisions.”
The comments fit a pattern of criticism McCarthy has directed at the Republicans who voted to oust him as Speaker in 2023, a group he has repeatedly framed as responsible for destabilizing the House majority. Mace was one of eight GOP members who joined Democrats to remove him, an extraordinary move that ended his speakership and triggered weeks of leadership turmoil.
McCarthy did not reference Mace’s current legal and personal controversies, which include her allegations of assault against her former fiancé and a countersuit accusing her of fabricating those claims, nor did he tie his remarks to speculation she may seek the governorship. Reporting from multiple outlets indicates the Fox News comments were not prompted by new developments but reflect ongoing resentment tied to her 2023 vote and his broader critique of her judgment.
Mace has not publicly responded to McCarthy’s latest comments, and it remains unclear whether the renewed denunciation will influence her standing inside the GOP as she navigates mounting scrutiny and weighs her political future.