Housing Secretary Ben Carson Benjamin (Ben) Solomon CarsonState AGs condemn HUD rule allowing shelters to serve people on basis of biological sex Biden cannot keep letting Trump set the agenda The Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump heads to New Hampshire after renomination speech MORE griped about "gotcha politics" in a recent interview after being called out for not understanding a basic terminology under the scope of his cabinet position last month.

Carson was criticized in May when he appeared confused at Rep. Katie Porter's (D-Calif.) question about what an REO (Real estate owned) foreclosure was during a House Financial Services Committee hearing.

"Oreo?" Carson replied.

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In an interview Wednesday with ABC News, Carson said "it's silly" to engage in "'Ha! Gotcha!' stuff."

“And I think, 'Give me a break,’” Carson said.

He added that there's "big policy issues to deal with" and said that is what he wants to talk about.

In the immediate aftermath of the REO misunderstanding, though, Carson chose to make light of the situation tweeting an image of himself holding a box of Oreos to send Porter's way.

During the hearing Carson was grilled on his department's plan to roll back an Obama-era rule ensuring homeless transgender people can stay in single-sex shelters that match their gender identity.

Carson told committee members he was not anticipating changing the rule, but one day later HUD unveiled a proposal that would effectively allow federally funded shelters to discriminate against transgender people.

The Hill reported Carson defended his prior testimony sending a letter to Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters Maxine Moore WatersPowell, Mnuchin stress limits of current emergency lending programs Pelosi: House will stay in session until agreement is reached on coronavirus relief Omar invokes father's death from coronavirus in reaction to Woodward book MORE (D-Calif.) and ranking member Patrick McHenry Patrick Timothy McHenryCheney battle raises questions about House GOP's future Hillicon Valley: Democrats request counterintelligence briefing | New pressure for election funding | Republicans urge retaliation against Chinese hackers House Republicans urge Trump to take action against Chinese hackers targeting coronavirus research MORE (R-N.C.) that the 2012 rule is "not being revised."

“I abhor discrimination and want to assure you HUD is, and always will be, committed to protecting every person's right to access to our programs without fear or discrimination,” he wrote.

Democrats and LGBTQ advocates said stripping protections could lead to shelters denying access to those in need and force transgender people into dangerous situations.