Washington, D.C. – January 16, 2026
A routine Senate hearing on the safety of chemical abortion drugs took an unexpected turn Wednesday when Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri repeatedly pressed Indian-origin obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Nisha Verma on a pointed question about biology and gender: "Can men get pregnant?" Verma's measured refusal to deliver a simple yes-or-no answer has since exploded across social media, drawing sharp rebukes from conservatives and reigniting national debates on transgender rights, reproductive healthcare, and scientific discourse in politics.
The exchange unfolded during a U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee session titled "Protecting Women: Exposing the Dangers of Chemical Abortion Drugs," which scrutinized the use of mifepristone, a medication central to medication-induced abortions. Verma, testifying as a witness for Democrats and representing Physicians for Reproductive Health, emphasized the importance of evidence-based medicine over political interference in reproductive care.
Hawley, probing Verma's earlier testimony that restrictions on abortion drugs were politically motivated rather than scientifically driven, zeroed in on what he called a "biological reality." "Can men get pregnant?" he asked directly. Verma paused before responding, "I'm not really sure what the goal of the question is." When pressed further, she elaborated: "I do take care of people that don't identify as women that can get pregnant... Again, as I'm saying, I think yes-and-no questions like this are a political tool."
The senator, visibly frustrated, reiterated, "The goal is the truth... For the record: It's women who get pregnant, not men." Earlier in the hearing, Florida Attorney General and witness Ashley Moody had posed a similar question, amplifying the moment's intensity. Clips of the back-and-forth quickly amassed millions of views on platforms like YouTube and X (formerly Twitter), with hashtags such as #CanMenGetPregnant trending nationwide.
### Who Is Dr. Nisha Verma?
Born in Greensboro, North Carolina, to Indian immigrant parents, Dr. Verma, 38, has built a distinguished career advocating for reproductive justice amid restrictive state laws. A board-certified OB-GYN and complex family planning subspecialist, she holds a Bachelor's in Biology and Anthropology from the University of North Carolina, a medical degree from the same institution, and a Master's in Public Health from Emory University. Her residency in obstetrics and gynecology was at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, followed by a fellowship in complex family planning at Emory.
Currently serving as Senior Advisor for Reproductive Health Policy and Advocacy at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), Verma practices in Georgia and Maryland, where she has researched the effects of the state's six-week abortion ban on high-risk pregnancies. She also holds an adjunct assistant professor position at Emory University School of Medicine and has previously testified before Congress on abortion access. Her work often intersects with equity in healthcare, emphasizing care for patients across diverse gender identities—a stance that fueled the hearing's controversy.
### Backlash and Broader Implications
The viral moment has polarized reactions. Conservative commentators and lawmakers have lambasted Verma, accusing her of prioritizing "woke" ideology over basic biology. Rep. Earl "Buddy" Carter (R-GA), a pharmacist-turned-congressman, penned a letter to the Georgia Composite Medical Board calling for an investigation into Verma's license, arguing her responses undermine her credibility on women's health issues. On X, users echoed the sentiment, with one post declaring, "Her license to practice should be REVOKED! She is NOT a Doctor, she is just another LYING Dem!"
Supporters, however, hailed Verma's poise as a stand against politicized medicine. "She treats patients with many identities," one defender noted, framing the questioning as a distraction from substantive policy discussions on mifepristone's safety. The incident arrives amid ongoing legal battles over abortion access post-Roe v. Wade, with the Supreme Court set to revisit mifepristone regulations in March.
Hawley and Moody later reacted on Fox News, with Hawley stating the exchange exposed "how far the left will go to deny biological truth." As the dust settles, Verma's testimony serves as a flashpoint in America's culture wars, where science, identity, and policy collide.
This report is based on Senate records, public statements, and social media analysis. xAI News Desk contributed to this story.
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