Saturday, July 12, 2025

U.S. Congressman’s ‘Mr.’ Gaffe Towards Transgender Rep. McBride Stirs Controversy

U.S. Representative Sarah McBride (Delaware, Democratic Party) is the first transgender member of the House of Representatives. / News1
U.S. Representative Sarah McBride (Delaware, Democratic Party) is the first transgender member of the House of Representatives. / News1

A controversy erupted in the U.S. Congress when a Republican congressman referred to a transgender Democratic representative as “Mr.” instead of “Ms.”, prompting protests from Democratic lawmakers.

On Tuesday, the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on Europe held a hearing on arms control and U.S. support for Europe.

During the hearing, Republican Representative Keith Self (Texas), the subcommittee chair, introduced Democratic Representative Sarah McBride (Delaware) as “Mr. McBride.” McBride is the first openly transgender representative in U.S. history.

McBride briefly displayed a displeased expression but quickly responded, “Thank you, Madame Chair. “She deliberately addressed herself with the female honorific “Madame” to express her discontent before continuing her remarks.

However, Democratic Representative William Keating (Massachusetts), the ranking member sitting next to Self, did not let the incident slide. He urged Self to correct the honorific, but Self repeated, “Mr. McBride.”

Keating then accused Self of acting in an undignified manner.

Self attempted to continue the hearing, but Keating stood firm, insisting that an elected representative should be addressed appropriately. In the end, Self abruptly ended the hearing just one minute after making the controversial remark.

Afterward, Self defended his stance on social media, stating that U.S. policy recognizes only two genders: male and female.

Meanwhile, this is not the first controversy surrounding McBride. Last month, Republican Representative Mary Miller (Illinois) sparked backlash when she referred to McBride as “the gentleman from Delaware.”

Hot this week

Coffee Prices Jump After Trump Hits Brazil With 50% Tariff

Coffee prices surged after Trump's 50% tariff on Brazil, leading to retaliatory measures and a drop in Brazilian stocks.

Trump Pushes New 15–20% Tariffs on U.S. Trading Partners

Trump plans to impose 15%-20% tariffs on many trading partners, including a 35% tariff on Canada starting August 1.

Qualcomm’s Top AI Chip Now Powers the Galaxy Z Fold 7

Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite platform will power Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7, enhancing AI and performance in mobile innovation.

Nvidia Hits $4 Trillion Market Cap, Becomes First to Do It

Nvidia breaks the 4 trillion USD market cap, becoming the first to achieve this milestone in the AI semiconductor market.

Wall Street Ends Mixed as Nvidia Nears $4 Trillion, Tesla Rebounds

The NY stock market showed mixed results with Nvidia nearing a $4 trillion cap, while tariffs and Musk's politics impact Tesla.

Topics

Coffee Prices Jump After Trump Hits Brazil With 50% Tariff

Coffee prices surged after Trump's 50% tariff on Brazil, leading to retaliatory measures and a drop in Brazilian stocks.

Trump Pushes New 15–20% Tariffs on U.S. Trading Partners

Trump plans to impose 15%-20% tariffs on many trading partners, including a 35% tariff on Canada starting August 1.

Qualcomm’s Top AI Chip Now Powers the Galaxy Z Fold 7

Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite platform will power Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7, enhancing AI and performance in mobile innovation.

Nvidia Hits $4 Trillion Market Cap, Becomes First to Do It

Nvidia breaks the 4 trillion USD market cap, becoming the first to achieve this milestone in the AI semiconductor market.

Wall Street Ends Mixed as Nvidia Nears $4 Trillion, Tesla Rebounds

The NY stock market showed mixed results with Nvidia nearing a $4 trillion cap, while tariffs and Musk's politics impact Tesla.

Oil Prices Climb Again as Red Sea Tensions Escalate

International oil prices rise due to U.S. tariff threats and tensions in the Red Sea, with Brent crude at $70.15 per barrel.

Tesla Tanks $68B as Musk Unveils New Political Party

The New York stock market declines after Trump imposes tariffs on South Korea and Japan, with Tesla losing $68 billion in value.

Oil Prices Climb After Saudi Arabia Hikes Export Rates

Saudi Arabia's surprise oil price hike boosts international oil prices, impacting markets and South Korea's oil imports significantly.

Related Articles