Democrats Say They ‘Will Not Take a Lecture’ From Republicans on Decorum

“We will not take a lecture on decorum from a party that incited an insurrection,” Rep. Sarah McBride told reporters on Thursday, after Republicans have openly criticized Democrats for their behavior in Congress.

House Democrats 2025 Issues Conference

Rep. Sarah Elfreth, House Minority Whip Katherine Clark, Reps. Laura Friedman, Sarah McBride, Maxine Dexter, and Kelly Morrison conduct a news conference with freshmen women during the House Democrats 2025 Issues Conference. Tom Williams/AP

Two days after a Republican subcommittee chair adjourned a hearing over a dispute about pronouns, House Democrats spent part of their yearly policy retreat Thursday dismissing GOP attacks on their decorum.

“We will not take a lecture on decorum from a party that incited an insurrection,” Rep. Sarah McBride told reporters on Thursday, after a group of female lawmakers was asked about Republican criticism of Democratic antics during Donald Trump’s recent joint address and the episode on Tuesday involving McBride’s pronouns.

McBride, the first openly transgender member of Congress, was introduced at a hearing by House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe Chair Keith Self as “Mr. McBride.”