Trump uses anti-transgender slur to attack South Carolina Senate nominee

Trump Targets Democratic Senate Candidate in South Carolina Race

Earthguardiansonline.com – President Donald Trump used an anti-transgender slur in a Monday social media post directed at Dr. Annie Andrews, the Democratic nominee in South Carolina’s Senate contest. The president’s remarks came as he works to strengthen support for Republican Sen. Darline Graham ahead of the midterm election.

In the post, Trump used a variation of the slur three times while referring to Andrews and praising Graham. The attack adds another sharp turn to a campaign that has drawn increasing national attention despite South Carolina’s long-standing Republican advantage in statewide federal races.

Andrews did not directly address the president’s language when responding. Instead, the pediatrician and mother focused on her campaign’s message about families, health care and household costs.

“I’m in this race to fight for my patients, my three kids, and South Carolina.”

She said she intends to seek cooperation wherever possible if it helps the state’s residents.

“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,” she said.

A race with personal stakes for Trump

Trump has invested unusual personal attention in Graham’s campaign. Darline Graham was appointed after the sudden death of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, whom Trump had viewed as a close friend. The president encouraged her appointment, then became a prominent backer of her effort to secure the Republican nomination.

His political allies also helped provide major financial support during the primary. MAGA Inc., Trump’s political action committee, spent more than $800,000 in support of Graham during the GOP primary runoff. Trump additionally campaigned for her in person, placing his own political standing alongside the candidate’s prospects.

That effort has made the general election more than a standard contest between a Republican and Democratic nominee. It has become a measure of how effectively Trump can influence a race in a state where Republicans have typically entered statewide elections with a clear advantage.

Recent ratings have suggested a closer contest than many initially anticipated. Two weeks ago, the Cook Political Report shifted the race from “solidly Republican” to “likely Republican.” The change did not place the seat in the toss-up category, but it reflected greater uncertainty about the margin and the direction of the campaign.

Some Trump allies have also expressed concern about Graham’s polling, adding urgency to the president’s direct intervention. A state once widely seen as a secure Republican hold is now receiving closer scrutiny from national political observers and both parties.

Trump’s praise for Graham

While attacking Andrews, Trump devoted much of his post to highlighting Darline Graham’s personal qualities and recalling comments he said her late brother had made about her. He portrayed her as dependable, intelligent and intensely loyal.

“For years my dear friend Lindsey would say that, ‘Darline is the finest, most reliable, and one of the smartest people I have ever known.’ He would then always add, ‘Also, the most loyal!’ Oftentimes I would be upset with Lindsey for saying this, because I thought I had all of those qualities,” Trump wrote.

The message illustrated the family connection that has shaped Graham’s entry into the Senate race. It also underscored Trump’s effort to frame her candidacy as an extension of the relationship he had with Lindsey Graham.

Transgender policy remains a campaign issue

Republicans in South Carolina have repeatedly criticized Andrews over her positions involving transgender issues. Their attacks have included her previous support for hormone treatment for children.

Andrews has said she does not support gender-identity surgery for minors. That distinction has remained central to her response as opponents seek to characterize her record on medical treatment and transgender policy.

The dispute reflects a broader political divide that has become familiar in campaigns across the country, with candidates facing pressure to define their positions on medical care for transgender minors. In South Carolina, the issue now sits alongside questions about affordability, health care and the role of national political figures in a race for one of the state’s Senate seats.

For Andrews, the campaign message remains centered on her experience as a pediatrician and her identity as a parent. For Graham, the contest is increasingly tied to the support of Trump and to the legacy of her late brother. As Election Day approaches, the candidates are offering sharply different arguments about the issues South Carolina voters should prioritize.