Bessent's 'Silicon Valley' jab
At a St. Patrick's Day dinner at Hibernian Hall in Charleston, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly made a crude joke at Rep. Nancy Mace's expense, a Trump Cabinet member publicly demeaning a fellow MAGA Republican in her home state.
At the annual St. Patrick's Day dinner at Hibernian Hall in Charleston on March 17, 2026, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly made a crude joke at Rep. Nancy Mace's expense, according to FITSNews and The Daily Beast. The remark came from a Trump Cabinet member at a private gathering of South Carolina's political establishment, Bessent's home state, making it notable as an instance of a fellow MAGA Republican publicly demeaning Mace in front of her own constituency.
According to FITSNews, which cited multiple attendees, Bessent said: "In California, Silicon Valley is where they make the computers. In South Carolina, Silicon Valley is the space between Nancy Mace's tits." The outlet noted that at least one attendee disputed the exact wording, with another account rendering the punch line as "the space between her chest." The Daily Beast described the remark as "crude and sexist," attributing that characterization to its own reporting. Neither Mace nor Bessent publicly responded to coverage of the remarks, according to the reporting.
The dinner at Hibernian Hall, a storied venue in downtown Charleston known for its elite guest lists, is an off-the-record social event. Details were subsequently leaked to FITSNews. Mace had not publicly commented on the remark as of the time of reporting.
The remark was reported as off-the-record and its exact wording is disputed; all characterizations above are attributed to FITSNews, The Daily Beast, and People/AOL as noted. Mace has not publicly addressed it.
"In California, Silicon Valley is where they make the computers. In South Carolina, Silicon Valley is the space between Nancy Mace's tits."
Scott Bessent, as reported by FITSNews (cited by reporting)
Bessent's St. Patrick's Day remark, as reported by FITSNews, citing multiple attendees.