South Carolina Representative Nancy Mace humorously shared details about her recent breakup and addressed rumors about her congressional office during a speech at the Gridiron Club’s annual winter dinner in Washington. The event, attended by a host of top media personalities, came shortly after reports surfaced about Mace’s split with her former fiancé, Patrick Bryant, and their plans to sell their shared multi-million-dollar beachfront property and a home in Washington, D.C.
Mace, known for her dynamic presence and frequent media appearances, light-heartedly confirmed the end of her engagement, citing a rather unexpected reason. She revealed to the audience that she ended the relationship after discovering Bryant on a dating app. Bryant later clarified to the media that he had reactivated his profile solely to delete an old account.
The congresswoman, who has a rich background including working at a Waffle House and being the first woman to graduate from the Citadel, the military college of South Carolina, intertwined humor with personal anecdotes during her speech. She made a witty remark linking her broken engagement to political issues, joking that she tied the marriage proposal to border security.
Addressing another topic, Mace poked fun at herself and the recent news about her office staff. She sarcastically mentioned the rumors about her firing multiple staff members, even making a tongue-in-cheek reference to Donald Trump’s famous catchphrase “you’re fired” and its political implications. Mace continued her humorous streak by joking about an allegation that she had discussed her sex life in the office, which she firmly denied, instead quipping that such topics were reserved for prayer breakfasts.
Mace’s speech at the Gridiron Club, a longstanding institution known for its annual dinners featuring political humor and satire, also included self-deprecating jokes. She has been a figure of interest in political circles, especially following her stance on the events of January 6 and her complex relationship with former President Donald Trump, including her vote against former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Her speech at the event, which traditionally sees political figures making headlines with witty remarks, highlighted her unique blend of humor and candidness in addressing both her personal life and political career.