Part of: Charleston airport / TSA incident (Oct. 2025, June 2026)
Tim Scott rebukes Mace over airport tirade: 'We work for them, not vice versa'
South Carolina's junior senator Tim Scott publicly rebuked Rep. Nancy Mace the day after she invoked his name during her Oct. 30 airport confrontation, saying it is 'never acceptable to berate police officers, airport staff, and TSA agents' and that members of Congress 'work for them, not vice versa.'
On Nov. 4, 2025, Sen. Tim Scott posted a public rebuke of Rep. Nancy Mace on Facebook, four days after Mace invoked his name during a confrontation with police and TSA agents at Charleston International Airport, saying officers would "never treat Tim Scott like this."
Scott, who rarely weighs in on intrastate Republican disputes, made clear the comparison was unwelcome:
"Those who know me know that I do not use profanity, in public or private. It is never acceptable to berate police officers, airport staff, and TSA agents who are simply doing their jobs, nor is it becoming of a Member of Congress to use such vulgar language when dealing with constituents."
He added a pointed reminder about the obligations of elected office:
"Not only are these officers sworn to protect us, but we also take an oath to represent them. We work for them, not vice versa."
The statement was notable for its directness; Scott had not previously commented on the Oct. 30 incident. Mace later responded to both Scott and Sen. Lindsey Graham on X (see the related dispatch).
Source: Fox Carolina · archived · Notus · ABC News 4 · Post and Courier
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On November 3, 2025, Mace told reporters she would not apologize for her conduct toward TSA officers and police during an October 30 dispute at Charleston International Airport, saying she hoped she had dropped an expletive.