President Trump used an anti-transgender slur three times on Truth Social to attack Democratic Senate candidate Annie Andrews while endorsing Republican Darline Graham in South Carolina. Andrews, a pediatrician, avoided engaging with the insult and refocused her message on lowering household costs and helping families. The language drew criticism from Democrats and at least one Republican governor, underscoring how incendiary rhetoric can shift the tone of a competitive race.
Trump Repeats Anti-Trans Slur in Truth Social Post Targeting Democratic Senate Candidate
(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
President Donald Trump repeatedly used an anti-transgender slur to attack Democratic Senate hopeful Annie Andrews as he publicly endorsed Republican state senator Darline Graham in an unexpectedly competitive South Carolina race.
In a Truth Social post on Monday, Trump referred to Andrews — a pediatrician who is not transgender — three times by the slur "trannie" while urging voters to oppose her in the November election. He wrote, "Annie 'Trannie' Andrews is running against our wonderful Darline Graham for the Senate in South Carolina," later adding that Andrews was "not for South Carolina" and that "South Carolina must show, in the upcoming Election, that it is not for her."
(Screengrab via Truth Social)
Andrews largely declined to engage with the insult and instead redirected attention to household costs and her campaign priorities:
(Screengrab via Truth Social)
As a mom and a pediatrician, I'm in this race to fight for my patients, my three kids, and South Carolina. And I'm going to work with anyone to put South Carolina first, because lowering costs and making life better for families across our state is going to take all of us working together. If you care more about your bills than the politics in Washington, this campaign is for you.
Republicans have highlighted Andrews's record on transgender-related policies as a campaign issue. Andrews has defended certain forms of non-surgical gender-affirming care for minors while saying she does not support gender-identity surgery for children or allowing transgender athletes to compete in women's sports.
Trump's use of the slur drew criticism from Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and condemnation from at least one Republican: South Carolina Governor David Beasley called the attack "abhorrent."
Trump has taken a personal interest in Darline Graham's campaign: he encouraged her to run, campaigned for her during a contentious Republican primary, and she went on to defeat Rep. Ralph Norman in the GOP runoff.
This episode highlights how incendiary language on social platforms can reshape attention in a close race and prompt bipartisan rebuke.
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