Charleston, S.C. — U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina allegedly lashed out at law-enforcement officers at Charleston International Airport early Thursday morning, loudly cursing at police and calling them “f**king incompetent,” according to an incident report obtained by multiple outlets.
Mace, who has aligned herself closely with former President Donald Trump and is now running for South Carolina governor, has repeatedly raised concerns about credible threats to her safety. In December, she reported being physically accosted on Capitol grounds.
The airport incident report claims the congresswoman’s behavior escalated well beyond a routine security escort request. One officer wrote, “Any other person in the airport acting and talking the way she did, our department would have been dispatched and we would have addressed the behavior.”
CNN has requested comment from Mace’s office.
Campaign Defends Behavior
Cameron Morabito, Mace’s director of operations, told The New York Times that the situation is being politicized.
“Apparently, simply arriving at an airport now makes headlines if you’re leading the race for governor,” Morabito said. He added that threatening rhetoric against the congresswoman has intensified, especially after the widely publicized “assassination” of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
“Our security procedures are based solely on legitimate safety concerns,” he continued, labeling criticism as “dangerous and reckless.”
Mace herself briefly addressed the episode, saying she was frustrated because recent death threats were not being taken seriously.
“We all get frustrated when it’s not taken seriously,” she told the outlet.
Officers Waited for Vehicle, But Mace Arrived Elsewhere
According to officers, the Aviation Authority’s police were notified at 6:00 a.m. that they would need to escort Mace to her flight. They were told to expect her at 6:30 a.m. in a white BMW.
Security footage, however, shows Mace arriving at 6:50 a.m. in a dark gray sedan near a separate sidewalk entrance, alone and without staff. Officers—still waiting at the designated curb—were informed minutes later that she was instead standing at the TSA Known Crewmember entrance.
Department records say officers reached her in “less than a minute” after receiving the updated location.
Profanity-Laced Exchange
Once officers made contact, Mace allegedly became “very irate,” repeatedly cursing them.
“This is no way to treat a f**king U.S. Representative,” one officer quoted her as saying. She also claimed that Sen. Tim Scott “would never be treated like this.”
Security video provided to CNN shows Mace gesturing and speaking emphatically with airport personnel for roughly seven minutes before officers escorted her to the gate.
Staff Report Being ‘Shocked’ by Behavior
After Mace boarded her flight, TSA agents and an airline employee reported feeling “shocked and upset” by her conduct, according to the incident narrative.
No arrests were made, and the congresswoman proceeded with her travel plans.
Background of Safety Claims
Mace has been vocal about threats tied to her public profile. While some critics accuse her of dramatizing confrontations, allies point to a growing climate of political hostility.
Her gubernatorial bid has placed her under heightened scrutiny, and Thursday’s incident underscores the increasingly tense balance between elected officials’ security needs and the expectations placed on public behavior.
For now, airport authorities say they have no further comment, and no disciplinary action against the officers involved has been reported.