What did Rep. Nancy Mace say at closed-door South Carolina town hall?
Republican Rep. Nancy Mace tackled a range of pressing issues — from Social Security to federal spending — during a closed town hall on Wednesday at Dataw Island, offering insights on her political views while leaving her gubernatorial plans uncertain.
During the private meeting, limited to residents of the Beaufort island’s gated community, Mace didn’t confirm whether she plans to run for governor, instead emphasizing her current focus on representing the state’s first congressional district, which includes Beaufort County. Still, she didn’t hold back when asked about contentious national issues.
For those who couldn’t attend the event, here are the main topics Mace addressed:
Social Security tax cuts
With about 30% of Beaufort County’s population being 65 years or older — and communities like Dataw Island and Hilton Head Island attracting many retirees — Social Security policy remains a high-stakes issue for many residents.
At the town hall, Mace said she strongly supports President Donald Trump’s campaign promise to eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits.
“The last thing we should be doing is taxing those in retirement,” she said.
She referenced legislation introduced by Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massiehas — the Senior Citizens Tax Elimination Act — which would end federal taxation of Social Security income. While popular among older voters in the community, the proposal could increase the national deficit by up to $1.5 trillion.
DOGE and wasteful spending
The Department of Government Efficiency, an unofficial government department created via executive order by Trump with the stated aim of eliminating wasteful government spending and run by Elon Musk, has come under scrutiny for lacking transparency in how it identifies inefficiencies and tracks savings.
“I love Elon Musk,” Mace said, adding that she fully supports his efforts to uncover government inefficiencies.
Earlier in the town hall, she said, “Waste, fraud, abuse runs rampant” in federal programs. She pointed to millions spent on animal testing, citing examples that couldn’t immediately be verified.
War: Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas
When asked if she supports America first even if it means America is alone, Mace pushed back, saying she doesn’t believe America will ever be isolated. She emphasized her meeting with the Japanese Consulate in April as evidence of the connection that the state has with Japan.
On the war in Ukraine, Mace expressed support for President Trump’s efforts to end the conflict, agreeing with his latest stance that Ukraine should have fought for Crimea when Russia annexed it in 2014. She called for peace through negotiation and warned that without a diplomatic resolution, American troops could eventually be drawn into the conflict — a scenario she strongly opposes.
Mace also recounted her recent trip to Israel, calling it one of her career’s most painful and eye-opening experiences. She visited the Gaza border and emphasized Israel’s right to defend itself, saying that the children in Gaza are being taught to hate Jewish and Christian people.
At this point in the meeting, around 30 residents of the Dataw Island community started walking out, with one individual verbally disagreeing with Mace. The two yelled back and forth briefly before the attendee walked off.
Federal funds and schools
Mace criticized the use of federal funds for universities that, in her view, permit discrimination, particularly antisemitism, on campus. She pointed to Harvard University’s sizable endowment and questioned why institutions with such financial resources should continue receiving taxpayer support if they allow hate speech. Mace also took issue with Harvard’s stance against federal influence on curriculum, arguing that schools unwilling to accept oversight should not accept federal money.
Illegal Immigration and deportation
Mace voiced strong support for the immediate deportation of undocumented immigrants, saying she wants them removed from the country without delay. She criticized what she described as a double standard in immigration enforcement, noting that previous administrations — both Democrat and Republican — carried out mass deportations without drawing the level of scrutiny faced during President Trump’s term. Mace attributed the current backlash to “activist judges” and political bias against Trump.
She also referenced the 2023 arrest of Eric Salvador Hernandez Bonilla on Lady’s Island, who was previously charged with making terrorist threats and had reported ties to the MS-13 gang in El Salvador.
Infrastructure and federal support
The Dataw Island community also specifically asked if federal assistance might be available to help fund a replacement bridge to the island — the only way on and off the gated community by car. The bridge is one of several capital projects in the planning stages that require permits and approvals.
In response, Mace highlighted her office’s track record in helping out the Lowcountry’s communities. She pointed to the more than $23 million her office helped secure for the Hilton Head Island airport expansion project, among others, before ending by saying she was more than willing to help the community figure it out.
This story was originally published April 24, 2025 at 3:12 PM.
