Donald Trump Uses Transgender Slur to Attack South Carolina Candidate

President Donald Trump used a transgender slur three times in a Truth Social post on Monday to attack Democratic Senate candidate Annie Andrews. Trump referred to Andrews as 'Annie "Trannie" Andrews' and claimed she supports open borders, defunding the police, and the removal of guns. Despite the slur, Andrews is not transgender.

Trump used the post to endorse Republican Senator Darline Graham, who was appointed to the seat by Governor Henry McMaster following the death of her brother, Senator Lindsey Graham, in July 2026. Trump described Graham as a "High Quality person" and urged voters to support her in the November 3 election.

Andrews, a pediatrician, declined to engage with the insults, stating she is running to fight for her patients, children, and the state of South Carolina. The attacks drew condemnation from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who called the language "despicable," and the Human Rights Campaign, which described the posts as "pathetic diatribes."

Former Republican Governor David Beasley also labeled the comments "abhorrent," urging voters to reject politics based on division and hate. The race has become unexpectedly competitive; the Cook Political Report recently shifted the contest's rating from "solid Republican" to "likely Republican," citing Andrews's campaign efforts and a foreign policy debate error by Graham.