Rep. Nancy Mace Criticizes Charleston Airport Security During Shutdown Meltdown

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), currently running for South Carolina governor, sparked controversy after berating Charleston International Airport police and TSA agents during a security escort mix-up. According to incident reports, officers missed her arrival due to a vehicle mismatch, leading Mace to express frustration with profanities and accusations of incompetence, asserting that elected officials should receive better treatment. Mace claimed the incident was exaggerated and defended her actions as responses to repeated security failures, asserting her safety was at risk amid what she described as over two dozen security breaches at the airport. The airport authorities and TSA, many of whom were working unpaid during a government shutdown, reported being insulted and disrespected, with some officials expressing disbelief over her behavior. Mace's campaign downplayed the situation, attributing the backlash to intensified threats against her following political violence. The episode has drawn criticism from local officials and community members, who condemned her conduct toward unpaid security personnel during a tense funding impasse.