Rep. Sarah McBride, the first out transgender member of Congress, isn’t afraid to call things as she sees them — and she’s not mincing words when it comes to how some Republicans are behaving on Capitol Hill.
Speaking on the April 20 episode of Pod Save America, the Delaware Democrat likened the GOP’s political tactics to a reality TV drama.
“Some of my colleagues are treating me the way they’re treating me because they want attention,” McBride said. “They want to employ the strategies of a Bravo TV show to get attention in a body of 435 people. And the way to do that is to pick a fight with someone and throw wine in their face.”
It’s a colorful comparison — but one McBride says reflects the performative attacks she’s experienced since taking office. Elected in 2024, McBride entered Congress during what she describes as a “perfect storm” of anti-trans rhetoric, particularly under the Trump-Vance administration.
Despite the pressure, McBride said she tries to choose her battles wisely.
“I’m not always going to get it right,” she admitted. “If I’m the topic, then it’s my job to make the people who are trying to make me the topic seem small. If my constituents who are trans are the topic, then I’ll fight back.”
That measured approach was on display last month, when Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, pointedly misgendered McBride on the House floor, referring to her as “Mr. McBride.” Without missing a beat, McBride responded calmly and clearly: “Thank you, Madame Chair.”
But not every incident has been so subtle. In another awkward moment, Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., reportedly mistook a cisgender woman for McBride while attempting to enforce her own version of bathroom policing on Capitol Hill.
“They ran into the restroom, and a few seconds later, sheepishly walked out because they thought this woman was me,” McBride said. “There is one trans person in Congress. They cannot even police the one bathroom off the floor with the one trans person in Congress correctly.”
McBride has consistently used her platform to highlight the harm of anti-trans legislation, not only for trans Americans but also for cisgender people who get caught in the crosshairs.
“We’re already seeing the very predictable consequences of this particularly inflamed moment,” she said, pointing to recent reports of a cis woman allegedly fired after a customer wrongly assumed she was transgender. “Apparently, if you have shoulder-length hair and glasses, you’re told you don’t belong in the women’s restroom under their regime.”
Though she navigates a hostile political climate, McBride says she’s focused on using her role to fight smart and stay grounded — not reactive.
“My power is not giving them that,” she said, referring to those baiting her into viral confrontations. “Responding might feel good in the moment, but it gives them exactly what they want.”
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