Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday night that he encouraged his wife, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, to quietly return to the car when protesters confronted the couple earlier this week, but to his delight she did not listen.

“She ignored my advice and went right up to them and told them what she thought,” McConnell said, laughing, during an interview with Fox News anchor Shannon Bream. “I loved it. It went viral on the internet, and I’ve got one tough wife. I’m proud of her.”