After finishing fifth in South Carolina’s Republican gubernatorial primary, Rep. Nancy Mace said she intends to “add to the unemployment number” in January as “revenge” on President Donald Trump. Her comments land amid criticism of Trump’s economic policies an
Nancy Mace didn’t wait for the dust to settle. On June 12, she told her followers she plans to exact “revenge” on President Donald Trump.
“People keep asking me, ‘Will you get revenge on Trump for ending my political career?’ The answer is yes. I’ll be adding to the unemployment number in January,” Mace wrote on X.
The remark immediately read like a direct jab at Trump’s economic policies. Those policies have drawn criticism from parts of his own base amid rising gas prices tied to the ongoing U.S. military engagement in Iran—an issue Mace’s line about “unemployment” seemed designed to hit. Mace’s congressional term is set to end in January 2027.
Before she could talk about the next chapter, she had already lived through one major political setback. The “revenge” talk came three days after she finished fifth in South Carolina’s Republican gubernatorial primary, losing decisively even in her home county and congressional district.
Mace said she would not seek another congressional run. In her concession speech, she told reporters and supporters that her time in elected office concludes at the end of 2026.
The results underscored how far the campaign had fallen from what she expected. Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette led the field with 29.2 percent. Alan Wilson followed with 26.3 percent. Rep. Ralph Norman won 16.4 percent, and businessman Rom Reddy received 14.8 percent. Mace finished last with 11.6 percent.
She ultimately conceded and endorsed Wilson, whom she had previously criticized during the campaign. Both Wilson and Mace said on election night they had “buried the hatchet.”
In that same concession speech, Mace framed the loss as both an ending and a pause. “This isn’t the end of the fight, but it is the end of a chapter,” she said. She added that she had no plans to run for Congress again and acknowledged, “Well, my time is up at the end of this year.”
Those setbacks now sit beside another central story line: Trump’s role in her defeat.
Trump endorsed Evette on May 29, backing her over Mace. In a Truth Social post. Trump called Evette “an America First Patriot who has been with me from the very beginning. ” and said. “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!”.
Mace, for her part, said she had campaigned for Trump as far back as 2015 and argued she was the only gubernatorial candidate who had actually worked for the president. She also said she actively sought Trump’s endorsement but was ultimately sidelined.
After Trump’s endorsement, Mace said she still respects him but believes he made the wrong decision. “I think he got this one wrong,” she said.
She also said Trump reportedly called her directly to discourage her push for the release of Epstein files. Mace continued advocating for transparency, pointing to her experience as a survivor of sexual violence.
Mace told reporters she was blocked from accessing critical information during personal visits to the DOJ to review unredacted Epstein files.
Then. after the endorsement. she laid out her motivation in her own words: “I know I put the likelihood of an endorsement on the line when I demanded transparency on the Epstein files. I demanded it because you deserved the truth — ALL OF IT — and as a survivor of a corrupt and broken court system. I will always pursue justice for those who deserve it.”.
Now. with her House term set to end in January 2027 and her political future effectively closing at the end of 2026. Mace’s message to Trump has turned from grievance into a pledge. Her plans for “revenge” are tied to January and to unemployment—an answer delivered the same way her campaign often felt: blunt. personal. and aimed straight at the person she believes is responsible.
Nancy Mace Donald Trump revenge unemployment South Carolina Republican gubernatorial primary Pamela Evette Alan Wilson Epstein files DOJ Truth Social X
adding to the unemployment number?? wow
She says revenge but it’s Trump’s fault for everything like gas prices and Iran stuff… idk. Also wouldn’t unemployment be more like a gov thing not one person? This is just political drama.
Wait so Nancy Mace got defeated and now she’s mad at Trump so she wants higher unemployment in January? That doesn’t even make sense to me. Like how would she “add to it”?? maybe she meant she’ll help pass some bill or something but the headline makes it sound crazy.
She lost in her own county and district and still talking like she’s gonna take shots. Honestly politics is a joke, they always blame the next guy. Gas prices are up cause of Iran (sure) but also people are broke already… and she’s acting like unemployment is some scoreboard she can change. bury the hatchet then threatens revenge is wild.