Republican Rep. Andrew Clyde of Georgia referred to Democratic Rep. Sarah McBride as "the gentleman from Delaware, Representative McBride" while recognizing her to speak on the House floor Tuesday. McBride, who took office last year, identifies as a transgender woman and is among the most prominent transgender officials in Congress.
Clyde later posted a video clip of the exchange on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption,
"The People’s House recognizes basic biology."
Several House Republicans publicly backed Clyde's choice of address. Rep. Mary Miller of Illinois repeated a similar form of address she used last year, and Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona defended Clyde in a post asserting biological definitions of sex. Other Republican lawmakers echoed support online.
Left: Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., leaves a meeting of the House Republican Conference in the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, June 4, 2025; Right: Rep. Sarah McBride, a Democrat from Delaware, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025.
Fox News Digital reported it reached out to McBride's office for comment. The episode prompted reactions across social media and from political groups: Democrats and LGBTQ advocates condemned the remarks as disrespectful and harmful, while supporters said they were defending factual language.
Context and reaction:
This incident is the latest example of partisan disputes over how transgender people are addressed in public life and on the House floor. Critics say such remarks demean and marginalize transgender colleagues; supporters frame the comments as upholding biological definitions. The exchange underscores the broader, ongoing national debate over transgender recognition and respect in government and public institutions.
Note: The exchange drew renewed attention because McBride's presence in Congress represents a high-profile moment for transgender representation in U.S. politics, and similar incidents have occurred previously during floor proceedings.
