Nancy Mace has taken a swipe at Donald Trump after losing out on his endorsement for the South Carolina governor race. The president instead backed Lieutenant Governor Pam Evette to secure the GOP nomination, snubbing Mace and three other Republican contenders.
Mace Frames Snub as a Stand for Transparency
The 48-year-old congresswoman suggested that her push for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files—a stance that placed her at odds with much of her party—cost her Trump's support. While expressing 'enormous respect' for the president, Mace indicated that her principles outweighed the value of his endorsement.
'I put the likelihood of an endorsement on the line when I demanded transparency on the Epstein files,' she said. 'I demanded it because you deserved the truth—ALL OF IT—and as a survivor, I had to get justice for these women. If this is the price of an endorsement, I will never pay it.'
Nevertheless, Mace remained steadfast in her admiration for Trump, echoing his slogan by vowing to 'DRAIN THE SWAMP' in her home state. 'I have enormous respect for President Trump and everything he has done for our country and for South Carolina. That respect is genuine and it is unchanged,' she stated.
Mace's Critique of the State's Establishment
Mace, one of the few Republicans to challenge the GOP establishment on a full release of the Epstein files, believes this stance contributed to losing Trump's backing. She declared, 'I WILL DRAIN THE SWAMP, not keep the same creatures there. We have a state that's corrupt. A system that's broken. And an establishment who wants to stay in the shadows. It's been that way for the last decade since Pam Evette's been in office, and with the governor's son Henry Jr as her running mate, South Carolina can expect more of the same.'
Evette has served as lieutenant governor under Governor Henry McMaster, whose son is likely to be her running mate. On Friday, Trump expressed appreciation for Evette, noting her support for his 2024 campaign. 'Pam has proven she has the Courage and Wisdom to deliver strong results for the people of her wonderful State, and our Nation,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. He also highlighted that 'a big added plus' for her campaign is the potential partnership with Henry McMaster Jr.
'Pam Evette is a good friend, fighter, and WINNER, and will be a terrific Governor of South Carolina. Pam has my Complete and Total Endorsement—SHE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!' Trump added.
Evette Accuses Mace of Disloyalty
Earlier Friday, Evette accused Mace of having 'knifed the President so many times for your own gain.' Trump had previously endorsed against Mace during her congressional run in 2022. For two terms, Evette has served alongside Governor McMaster, one of Trump's earliest backers during his first presidential campaign. Earlier this year, the long-serving governor endorsed his second-in-command, signaling to some that Trump's backing could follow.
In the deeply red state of South Carolina, competition for the president's support has been the most intense aspect of the primary race. Evette is vying for the nomination against Mace, Representative Ralph Norman, and state Attorney General Alan Wilson.
Mace's Complex Relationship with Trump
The non-endorsement continues Mace's complex relationship with Trump over her years in Congress. She signed a letter refusing to support Republican efforts to challenge the 2020 presidential election results, though she voted against impeaching Trump over the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. After the attack, Mace—who had just been sworn in as a freshman lawmaker—criticized Trump on television, stating that his accomplishments 'were wiped out in just a few short hours.'
Trump had been attempting to overturn the 2020 election after losing to Democrat Joe Biden and, at a rally, encouraged his supporters to 'fight like hell' before they stormed the Capitol. In response, Trump called Mace 'an absolutely terrible candidate' and solicited 'any interest from good and SMART America First Republican Patriots' to run against a list of sitting House Republicans, including Mace, whom he had endorsed for her first run in 2020 and who had worked for his 2016 campaign.
Trump even backed an unsuccessful primary challenger against Mace in 2022. However, in 2024, Mace endorsed Trump during the Republican primary despite facing off against fellow South Carolinians Nikki Haley and Tim Scott. Mace told The Associated Press that she was backing Trump over Haley, who lives in her congressional district and supported her in 2022 against a Trump-backed challenger.
'I don't see eye to eye perfectly with any candidate. And until now I've stayed out of it,' Mace said at the time. 'But the time has come to unite behind our nominee. Donald Trump's record in his first term should tell every America how vital it is he be returned to office.'
Mace's Advocacy for Epstein Victims
Mace, herself a survivor of sexual abuse, has been one of the most steadfast voices in the GOP on pursuing justice for Epstein's victims. This has put her at odds with Trump, who considers the issue a distraction. Trump was friendly with Epstein until the early 2000s and has never been implicated in any wrongdoing involving Epstein. Trump has recently backed opposition to former allies Marjorie Taylor Greene, who retired from Congress, and Thomas Massie, who was defeated in a primary, over their support for releasing the unredacted Epstein files.
Mace is not running to retain her seat in Congress as she attempts to win the governor's race in her home state. The primary election is set for June 9, and if no candidate secures over 50 percent of the vote, the top two will face a runoff on June 23.
