Trump hurls anti-trans slur at cisgender Democratic Senate nominee three times
Donald Trump attacked Dr Annie Andrews on Truth Social (Getty Images)
Donald Trump used an anti-trans slur three times in a Truth Social post attacking South Carolina Democratic Senate nominee Annie Andrews, prompting condemnation from LGBTQ+ advocates and senior Democrats.
In the post, Trump, attempting to make a joke out of her name, referred to Andrews as “t*****” on three occasions while urging voters to back Republican Sen. Darline Graham. Andrews is not transgender.
Trump wrote that Andrews is “not for South Carolina”, adding: “And South Carolina must show, in the upcoming Election, that it is not for her.”
Annie Andrews’ response
Andrews largely sidestepped the insult and instead pitched her campaign message. “As a mom and a paediatrician, I’m in this race to fight for my patients, my three kids, and South Carolina,” she said, adding that she would “work with anyone to put South Carolina first”.
She also framed the contest as a cost-of-living fight, saying: “If you care more about your bills than the politics in Washington, this campaign is for you.”
The Human Rights Campaign condemned Trump’s remarks, calling them “the sad, disgusting, pathetic diatribes of a lame duck president with record-low approvals.” Ramiro Sarmiento, a spokesperson for the organisation, said Trump was campaigning “in deep red territory” in an attempt to “shore up support ahead of the midterms”.
What’s happening in the South Carolina Senate race?
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned Trump’s words, calling his attacks on Andrews “despicable”. He praised Andrews as “a mom and paediatrician who’s always put her community first” and said “she’s exactly who South Carolina needs representing them in the Senate”.
Former South Carolina governor David Beasley, a Republican, also criticised Trump’s attack, writing: “This is abhorrent. Elections don’t have to be about cruelty and lies. South Carolina deserves better.”
The race has drawn national attention, with Andrews running as a Democrat in a state that has not elected a Democratic senator in nearly three decades.
Graham is seeking re-election to hold on to her seat following Gov Henry McMaster appointed her to take over her late brother’s seat after Lindsey Graham died in July 2026. She secured the Republican primary in a vote against Rep Ralph Norman by nearly 5 percentage points. Last month, the Cook Political Report shifted its rating of the race from “Solid Republican” to “Likely Republican.”
Trump’s post also follows comments from September 2026 in which he admitted discussing trans people as a campaign tactic, calling it “one of our great sound bites of all time”.
Annie Andrews on trans issues
Andrews has previously said she opposes gender-affirming surgery for those under 18 after Nancy Mace accused her of engaging in “child abuse”.
Andrews said: “What I support is evidence-based medical care, with parental consent, for teens struggling with gender identity issues.”
She also told Forbes Newsroom in September that she doesn’t support “biological men playing in women’s sports” and said she had did not support and had never performed gender-affirming surgery on minors.
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