Trump uses anti-trans slur in attack against cisgender Democratic candidate
Donald Trump has used an anti-trans slur repeatedly to attack a Democratic candidate running against his hand-picked candidate.
In a Truth Social post, he used the word “Trannie” three times to describe Annie Andrews, a cisgender woman running for Senate in South Carolina.
Donald Trump repeatedly used an anti-trans slur against Annie Andrews. AP Photo/Tom Brenner
“Annie ‘Trannie’ Andrews is running against our wonderful Darline Graham for the Senate in South Carolina,” Trump wrote.
"Darline is a High Quality person, maybe the Highest, and Annie Trannie is not, in particular, as it pertains to representing the Values of the Great People of South Carolina.
"She is in favor of Transgender for Everyone, Open Borders, Defunding the Police, High Taxes, a Weak Military, and will absolutely fight to take your guns away."
Andrews is in an unexpectedly close race against Graham, who was appointed to the seat after the death of her brother Lindsey.
The last two public polls showed Graham with just a one-point lead over Andrews.
Responding to Trump's Truth Social post, Andrews did not address the accusations made against her or the transphobic slur.
"As a mom and a paediatrician, I’m in this race to fight for my patients, my three kids, and South Carolina," Andrews said.
Annie Andrews is waging a long-shot bid to be the first Democrat in a generation to win a South Carolina Senate seat. AP Photo/Meg Kinnard
"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."
Trump pushed for Darline Graham to be appointed to the vacant seat, and endorsed her over other opponents in the Republican primary.
His endorsement came despite Graham’s lack of any political background.
Her inexperience was exposed when she was asked a straightforward question about the South China Sea.
"I’m not that informed on national security, but I do support the military," she said.
"I’m not a polished politician up here."
Darline Graham said in a debate that “national security was not my thing”. AP Photo/Meg Kinnard
Democrats have not won a Senate election in South Carolina since 1998.
The reality that Democrats stand a chance of winning in the typically conservative state is an indication of how Republicans are struggling ahead of the midterm elections.
Republicans are now seeking to distance themselves from Trump as he campaigns in safe conservative areas rather than battleground territory.
He has been holding rallies in states such as Oklahoma, Nebraska and Alabama, in districts which do not have competitive races.
He has also been forced into a rare backflip after Republicans widely criticised taxpayer-funded ads which promoted himself.
Republicans are already blaming Donald Trump for their poor midterm performance, a month before election day. AP Photo/Alex Brandon
He announced on Truth Social that he would pay for the ads using fundraising group MAGA Inc.
"The Radical Left is upset with the fact that I am taking Ads, which I consider to be a positive promotion for our Great USA, and paying for them with USA money," Trump said.
"This is a rather standard thing to do but, rather than doing that, although nothing will make them happy, I have decided to do the Patriotic Ads, among others, and pay for them myself, and with money I raised for MAGA, Inc."
Election Day is November 3.
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