Republican senators Josh Hawley of Missouri and Ashley Moody of Florida responded Wednesday after a tense exchange during a Senate hearing on chemical abortion drugs drew widespread attention online.
The moment occurred during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing titled “Protecting Women: Exposing the Dangers of Chemical Abortion Drugs,” held in the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
Following the hearing, Hawley posted a video clip of the exchange on X, writing, “SPOILER ALERT: Men cannot get pregnant.” He later followed up with another post stating, “Can men get pregnant? Not a difficult question.”
Moody also shared a clip from the hearing on social media, writing simply, “Can men get pregnant?”
Exchange During Questioning
The exchange took place during questioning by Moody, who asked OB-GYN Dr. Nisha Verma whether men could become pregnant.
Verma responded cautiously, saying she was unsure where the questioning was headed and explaining that she treats patients with a range of identities. According to a transcript of the hearing, Hawley then interjected.
“Well, the goal is, is the truth,” Hawley said. “Can men get pregnant?”
He added that he was seeking to establish what he described as a biological reality, pressing Verma for a direct answer and characterizing the question as a simple yes-or-no matter.
Verma pushed back, arguing that framing the issue in binary terms was political in nature. She said she preferred to avoid further polarization and expressed a desire for a broader discussion rather than answering the question directly.
As the exchange continued, Verma declined to provide a definitive response.
Focus of the Hearing
Hawley then tied the exchange back to the stated focus of the hearing.
“For the record, it’s women who get pregnant, not men,” he said. “We are here about the safety of women and science that shows that this abortion drug causes adverse health events.”
The hearing also included testimony from Liz Murrill, Verma, and Dr. Monique Chireau Wubbenhorst, as lawmakers debated federal policies governing abortion pills.
Reactions Afterward
Hawley’s office referred Fox News Digital to the senator’s posts on X when asked for comment.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Moody criticized Democrats’ handling of the issue.
“The agenda-driven and radicalized Democrats will overlook not only scientific fact but the harsh and dangerous consequences of their mission to ensure there are absolutely no restrictions to abortion on demand,” Moody said. “Today’s hearing put that on full display.”