The Daily Wire’s Michael Knowles spoke with Representative Keith Self (R-TX), who adjourned a congressional hearing on Tuesday after a Democrat congressman had an outburst over Self referring to a transgender-identifying, biologically male member of Congress as “mister.”
The kerfuffle began when Self, who chairs the Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Europe, referred to Representative Sarah McBride (D-DE), the first openly transgender-identifying member of Congress, as “mister.”
OMG. Rep. Keith Self (R) just referred to Rep. Tim McBride (D) as a "congressman" and Rep. Keating (D) had an absolute meltdown.
So Rep. Self ended the meeting 🤣pic.twitter.com/yatsQMijte
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) March 11, 2025
“I now recognize the representative from Delaware, Mr. McBride,” Self said during Tuesday’s hearing.
McBride responded by thanking Self and referring to him as “madam chair.”
The subcommittee’s top Democrat, Representative Bill Keating of Massachusetts, then interjected, asking Self to repeat his introduction.
Self doubled down, referring to McBride as “mister” and saying, “We have set the standard on the floor of the House.”
“Mr. Chairman, you are out of order,” Keating said. “Mr. Chairman, have you no decency?”
“We will continue this hearing,” Self said.
“You will not continue it with me unless you introduce a duly elected representative the right way!” Keating said, pounding his fist on the table.
“This hearing is adjourned,” Self said, tapping his gavel.
Self spoke to Knowles on Wednesday and explained that the first time McBride was introduced on the House floor, he was referred to as “mister” and did not object.
“We’ve set the standard now in the congressional record that Mr. McBride will be referred to as Mr. McBride,” Self said.
“What do you say to those people who say it is disrespectful for you to call a man who thinks he’s a woman ‘mister?'” Knowles asked.
“Michael, I’m a retired Green Beret,” Self responded. “I’m not even sure what all the fuss is about. I mean, he is allowed to live his life. In fact, I spent 25 years on active duty defending his right to live his life as he chooses, but I don’t have to participate in his fantasy.”
“The minute that you or any other Republican refers to this man as ‘miss’ or ‘madam’ or ‘missus’ or something then you have implicitly accepted the transgender ideology, and the whole debate is over,” Knowles said.
“Absolutely,” Self said, emphasizing the “the damage they are doing to our children.”
“Where are the Democrats when a young lady gets injured by a male playing in a volleyball game? They don’t have a word to say about it,” Self said.
“If Congress doesn’t stand against it, who is going to?” the congressman said. “We are viewed as national leaders of some sort, and we need to make the standard that we will not participate in this fantasy that they try to say that a man can become a woman.”
