Trump endorses Sen. Darline Graham, uses anti-trans slur for Democrat Annie Andrews

Mixed · 2President Donald Trump posted a Truth Social message on Monday 5 October endorsing Sen. Darline Graham (R-SC) and calling her Democratic challenger Annie Andrews "Annie 'Trannie' Andrews". 1 2 Mixed · 2Trump wrote that the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, whom he called his "dear friend", used to call Darline Graham "the finest, most reliable, and one of the smartest people I have ever known", and that these compliments sometimes upset Trump because he thought he had those qualities. 1 2 Mixed · 2Trump called Graham "a High Quality person, maybe the Highest" and said Andrews was not. He claimed Andrews supports "Transgender for Everyone, Open Borders, Defunding the Police, High Taxes, a Weak Military" and would "absolutely fight to take your guns away". 1 2

Mixed · 2He said "Trannie is not for South Carolina, and South Carolina must show, in the upcoming Election, that it is not for her", and urged supporters to vote for Graham, who he said has his "COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT". 1 2 Mixed · 2Raw Story described the post as an anti-trans slur written in a "rage-filled" message. The Washington Examiner said Trump appeared to be attacking Andrews over alleged support for gender transitions for minors and transgender athletes in women's sports. 1 2 Mixed · 2NBC News and the Hindustan Times also describe the term as an anti-trans slur and note that Andrews is not transgender; NBC counted three uses of "trannie" in the post, while the Hindustan Times said Trump appeared to be targeting her over her support for gender-affirming healthcare for children, a description at odds with Andrews's stated opposition to surgery for minors reported by NBC and the Washington Examiner. 3 4

Mixed · 2Andrews largely ignored the insult. In a statement first shared with NBC News she said she will "work with anyone to put South Carolina first" and that "If you care more about your bills than the politics in Washington, this campaign is for you." 3 4 Left · 1NBC News reported that Graham's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment and the White House referred the outlet to Trump's post. The Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ advocacy group, called the remarks "the sad, disgusting, pathetic diatribes of a lame duck president with record-low approvals", and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the attacks "despicable". 3 Right · 1The Washington Examiner reported that Graham's campaign launched a website, "Dr. Annie's Waiting Room", targeting Andrews on these issues, while Andrews has said publicly that she opposes transgender surgeries for children and transgender athletes in women's sports. In a recent interview Andrews declined to define a woman, saying the question has no place in a Senate race. 2

Right · 1Graham is defending the seat after replacing her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died of heart complications in July. Trump endorsed her for a full six-year term less than a week after the death, and she announced her run a few days later. 2 Mixed · 2Both outlets describe the race as closer than expected: Raw Story cites recent polling showing it "far closer than Republicans expected", while the Washington Examiner says the latest polls show Graham slightly leading. The two candidates are due to debate on 11 October. 1 2 Left · 1NBC News added that Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Graham to her late brother's seat, that she won the Republican primary runoff against Rep. Ralph Norman by nearly 5 percentage points, and that the Cook Political Report moved the race last month from "Solid Republican" to "Likely Republican", though South Carolina has not elected a Democratic senator in nearly three decades. 3

Right · 1The Washington Examiner added that other Trump administration officials have used the term recently, quoting War Secretary Pete Hegseth saying "no trannies" are welcome in the U.S. military in a "State of the Force" address last week. 2