Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE), the first transgender member of Congress, publicly rebuked former Obama Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel’s statement that “men cannot become women,” calling the view an “overcorrection.” The comments highlight growing fractures within the Democrat Party over how far to push transgender ideology.
In an interview with Politico’s Dasha Burns, McBride criticized the Democratic Party’s messaging, admitting, “I think voters feel like Democrats have sort of been assholes to them.” McBride suggested that negative perceptions of Democrats stem more from social media activists than official party leaders, warning that “loud voices online” are shaping public opinion.
Emanuel recently stated that the Democratic Party’s embrace of radical gender ideology is alienating moderate voters, especially on issues of biological sex. McBride dismissed Emanuel’s position and accused Republicans of being “obsessed” with gender issues—an assertion made without evidence.
McBride also responded to a recent moment on the House floor when Rep. Keith Self (R-TX) referred to McBride as “Mister McBride.” Rather than engaging on the substance of Self’s concerns, McBride previously called the Republican Party “weird and bizarre” for challenging progressive views on gender and sexuality.
This exchange adds to a growing internal conflict among Democrats over the boundaries of identity politics. Emanuel, a longtime political operative and U.S. ambassador to Japan, warned that pushing trans ideology too aggressively risks alienating working-class and independent voters—especially as election season nears.
McBride’s comments reinforce a divide between the party’s hard-left wing and more moderate Democrats calling for a return to biological and cultural norms. These ideological splits over gender identity, parental rights, and definitions of sex threaten to further destabilize the Democratic coalition heading into 2026.
The full interview with McBride will air Sunday on Politico’s “The Conversation.”
