Tuesday’s House Foreign Affairs Europe Subcommittee hearing turned into a battlefield when Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, kicked things off with a spark. Recognizing Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Del., as “the representative from Delaware, Mr. McBride,” he lit the fuse—conservatives say it’s just truth, not a taunt.
McBride, the first openly transgender congresswoman, fired back coolly, “Thank you, Madam chair.” But Rep. Bill Keating, D-Mass., wasn’t having it—he cut in, demanding Self repeat it. Self doubled down, “The representative from Delaware, Mr. McBride,” and the room exploded.
Keating unleashed a tirade. “Mr. Chairman, you are out of order,” he bellowed, slamming Self’s “decency” with, “Have you no decency? This is not decent.” Conservatives roll their eyes—Keating’s grandstanding reeks of woke theatrics over a simple fact of biology.
Self tried to push on, but Keating drew a line. “You will not continue it with me unless you introduce a duly-elected representative the right way!” he roared—an ultimatum that left Self no choice. “This hearing is adjourned,” Self declared, gavel down, chaos reigning.
The clash wasn’t random—McBride’s gender’s been a flashpoint. Last month, Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., called her “the gentleman from Delaware, Mr. McBride” on the floor—Miller stood firm on “biological reality.” Conservatives cheer Self following suit; it’s Trump’s truth restored.
Trump’s influence looms large. His 89 executive orders in 50 days—including banning men in women’s sports—set the tone. Self, chairing the Europe Subcommittee, echoed that grit Tuesday—Keating’s meltdown just proves Democrats can’t handle reality, Republicans argue.
McBride stayed poised amid the storm. “No matter how I’m treated by some colleagues, nothing diminishes my awe and gratitude at representing Delaware,” she posted on X. Conservatives respect the hustle but say facts don’t bend—Self’s “Mr.” wasn’t malice, it was principle.
Keating’s outburst killed the hearing’s point—nuclear nonproliferation and U.S. aid to Europe. “I was prepared to move forward with my questions,” McBride said later, disappointed. Republicans fume—Democrat tantrums tanked a vital discussion for their woke agenda.
This isn’t new—GOP lawmakers like Nancy Mace have targeted McBride’s status, banning trans women from Capitol bathrooms in November. Posts on X blast Keating’s “decency” rant as “virtue signaling”—conservatives see a party unhinged by Trump’s 82 percent-approved return.
America’s watching a circus, not a Congress. Self’s stand—backed by Miller’s precedent—shows Republicans won’t bow to pronoun games. Democrats’ chaos proves they’d rather scream than serve—Trump’s crew says it’s time to cut the nonsense and get back to work.
