Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) used the debut episode of her new podcast to push back against the social media storm over her newly revealed tattoo sleeves, telling critics to “relax” and dismissing the uproar as much ado about nothing.
On Monday’s episode of “Get MACED,” the conservative lawmaker showed off the colorful ink covering both biceps, which she said had “the internet losing its f—king mind.” She was quick to put the reaction in perspective: “Everybody just needs to relax. Zen. This is not a coup. There were no classified documents released. This wasn’t even the dumbest thing Washington has ever done before lunch.”
Mace acknowledged she has “a few” tattoos—possibly more than a few—but insisted they are “not a federal emergency.” The South Carolina Republican has historically kept her arms covered during legislative business, which is why the sudden social media posts featuring her inked biceps caught many off guard.
The tattoos include an illustration of a bird with the word “justice” and a line from Virginia Woolf’s novel Mrs. Dalloway. Mace said the markings were part of an effort to “reclaim” her body after years in the political spotlight.
“If visible arms send your timeline into crisis mode, you aren’t defending democracy. You’re losing a fistfight with someone else’s elbows, namely mine, right here,” she said.
The controversy comes at a politically delicate time for Mace. Once a staunch ally of President Trump, she failed to secure his endorsement for her gubernatorial bid earlier this year, a loss she has attributed to her support for the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Without the president’s backing, she finished fifth in the state’s GOP primary and is set to leave Congress early next year.
Despite her strained relationship with Trump, Mace echoed his rhetoric on Monday, referring to progressive Democrats as “jihadists.” She criticized the media for focusing on her appearance instead of what she called the “jihad capital.” “If you’re more offended by my ink than the Islamic invasion, you are the reason the new Communist Party is winning,” she added.
Mace’s comments come amid broader debates over political image and authenticity. In a Monday op-ed for The Daily Wire, freelance writer Abigail Nichols argued that conservatives should embrace tattoos to bolster their appeal with voters. “Conservatives need more tattoos. It’s not enough to hold the line on conservative values through talking heads, old campaign strategies, and hot blonde women. We’ve got to do it in style to vindicate the rebellious spirit that started this country,” Nichols wrote.
The episode also touched on Mace’s broader frustrations with the media and her political trajectory. She has previously faced death threats, and her recent focus on cultural flashpoints suggests she is positioning herself for a post-Congress career in conservative media.
