Jinkx Monsoon, the irrepressible two-time winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race, has once again brought both wit and political bite to the Broadway stage—and to morning television. Appearing on Good Morning America in mid-August 2025 to promote her lead role in the hit Broadway comedy Oh, Mary!, Monsoon used the national spotlight to take a pointed jab at Republican lawmakers she accuses of "rewriting history." The result? A viral moment that’s got both theatergoers and political commentators talking.
During a cheeky segment dubbed ‘Oh, Jinkx!’—hosted by Gio Benitez, Janai Norman, and Whit Johnson—Monsoon was presented with a series of absurd White House scenarios. The final prompt was a doozy: “You’ve just been told you’re the understudy for Mary’s husband and the show starts in five minutes.” Without missing a beat, Monsoon fired back, “Well, everyone, this is how it goes. Abraham Lincoln is now a trans woman, and that’s all there is to it. Since lawmakers get to rewrite history, why can’t I?” According to PinkNews and Star Observer, her response sent the hosts into fits of laughter, but the underlying message was crystal clear: Monsoon was calling out the ongoing attempts by some conservative politicians to revise or erase LGBTQIA+ history and rights from public education and policy.
This wasn’t Monsoon’s first foray into political satire or controversy. As Star Observer recounted, she’s been on a roll with her roasts lately, including a viral July 2025 interview with comedian Ziwe. In that exchange, Monsoon lampooned author JK Rowling—long a lightning rod for her views on trans issues—by quipping, “Who is he? Jake Hay Rowling?” When pressed, Monsoon continued, “I have to presume that JK Rowling was unsatisfied with the way that the world saw her, and then she transitioned herself into a new personality so that the world would perceive her the way she wanted to be perceived.” The comedic beat landed with both laughter and a pointed critique, quickly spreading across TikTok and Instagram.
But it’s Monsoon’s Broadway run that’s really got people buzzing. She stepped into the lead role of Oh, Mary! in August 2025, succeeding Titus Burgess (of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt fame) and joining a cast that features Michael Urie as Mary’s teacher, Kumail Nanjiani as Abraham Lincoln, and Jenn Harris as Mary’s chaperone. The play, written by Cole Escola, is a raucous, history-skewering comedy that follows Mary Todd Lincoln—the often-overlooked wife of President Abraham Lincoln—in the tumultuous weeks leading up to his assassination in 1865. The show’s irreverent humor and satirical take on American history have made it a hot ticket on Broadway, with the current run scheduled through January 4, 2026, according to PinkNews and Star Observer.
Monsoon’s performance comes at a fraught political moment. As Star Observer and PinkNews highlighted, the US Supreme Court is facing pressure to revisit the landmark 2015 ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. Meanwhile, a spate of anti-LGBTQIA+ bills have been introduced in state legislatures, and the Trump administration has been criticized for removing references to trans and bisexual people from government-funded websites, like the Stonewall Monument site. Against this backdrop, Monsoon’s comedic barbs about rewriting history land as both timely satire and a rallying cry for queer visibility.
“When lawmakers are actively trying to edit queer people out of their own stories, a drag queen rewriting Abe Lincoln as trans on breakfast TV feels like pitch-perfect satire,” wrote Star Observer. The moment resonated not just for its humor, but for its subversive power—reminding audiences that queer artists have long used wit and performance to challenge censorship and exclusion.
Monsoon’s willingness to speak out, both on and off the stage, has drawn praise and sparked debate. Some see her as a necessary voice in a time when LGBTQIA+ rights are under threat; others, particularly those with more conservative views, bristle at what they see as political grandstanding. Yet Monsoon’s approach—mixing biting satire with theatrical flair—seems to strike a chord with a broad swath of fans. As Good Morning America viewers saw firsthand, her brand of humor isn’t just about getting laughs; it’s about making people think.
Adding to the show’s buzz, Cole Escola made history at the Tony Awards in June 2025, becoming the first non-binary actor to win “Best Actor in a Play” for Oh, Mary!—a milestone noted by both PinkNews and Star Observer. The win was hailed as a breakthrough for non-binary representation on Broadway, and it underscored the show’s commitment to challenging traditional narratives, both in its casting and its content.
Monsoon’s own career has long been marked by a willingness to tackle tough topics head-on. She previously appeared in Pirates of Penzance on Broadway and is known for using her platform to advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights. Her recent critiques of JK Rowling and Republican lawmakers are just the latest examples of her outspoken style.
Of course, not everyone agrees with Monsoon’s approach. Some conservative commentators have accused her of disrespecting American history and using her platform to push a political agenda. But Monsoon’s defenders argue that satire has always played a vital role in holding power to account and highlighting the absurdities of those who seek to control the narrative. As one fan put it on social media, “If lawmakers can rewrite history, why can’t drag queens? At least Jinkx makes it entertaining.”
The debate over who gets to tell America’s story—and how—shows no signs of slowing down. As Oh, Mary! continues its Broadway run, and as Monsoon keeps the spotlight on issues of representation and historical truth, audiences are left with a question that’s both playful and profound: If history is up for grabs, who do we trust to tell it?
For now, Monsoon’s answer seems clear: challenge the gatekeepers, question the official story, and never be afraid to rewrite the script—especially if it gets a laugh, and maybe, just maybe, changes a few minds along the way.
