President Trump closed out his campaign push for Sen. Darline Graham (R-SC) with a fiery rally Thursday, unleashing a fresh round of culture war attacks against Democratic nominee Annie Andrews. The event, his third and final stop for Graham, underscored the high stakes in a race that could determine Senate control.
Trump repeatedly referred to Andrews, a pediatrician, using a derogatory term for transgender people and accused her of supporting "taxpayer-funded child sexual mutilation." These attacks echo his earlier rhetoric, which has centered on transgender rights and gender-affirming care.
Andrews has pushed back directly. In a recent ad, she stated: "I don't support biological men playing women's sports and I don't support — and haven't ever performed — gender surgery for minors." She has, however, previously voiced support for gender-affirming care for transgender youth, and in 2022 she opposed a South Carolina bill banning biological males from girls' sports, calling it "shameful legislation" that is "actively harmful."
The president also hit Andrews on gun control, labeling her a "vicious anti-gun radical." Andrews, a former volunteer with Moms Demand Action, has said she supports the Second Amendment and does not want to take anyone's guns, but she advocates for addressing gun violence as a public health crisis. Trump contrasted her "F" rating from the NRA with his own "A" rating, noting the NRA's endorsement of Graham.
Trump further claimed Andrews supports defunding the police, though there is no record of her advocating for such a policy. She has instead criticized Graham for not backing legislation that would support law enforcement officers and their families.
The president's focus on cultural issues comes as his party faces economic headwinds linked to the ongoing war in Iran. His approval rating has sunk to record lows ahead of the midterms; a Reuters/Ipsos poll this week showed just 32% approval, with 66% disapproving. The same poll found 37% of voters trust Democrats more on the economy, versus 33% for Republicans—a sharp reversal from pre-war numbers.
Trump personally recruited Graham to run for the seat vacated by her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, a staunch Trump ally. Average polls from Real Clear Polling show the race as a toss-up, with Graham holding a slight edge, making it a key battleground in the fight for the Senate.
This rally comes as Trump scraps a planned Kansas event in favor of a virtual format, a move that some see as a sign of shifting campaign dynamics. Meanwhile, Democrats are mobilizing legal teams in key states to counter potential interference, and the South Carolina race itself has tightened in recent weeks.
With the midterms days away, Trump's closing argument in South Carolina is a clear bet that cultural grievances will energize his base, even as economic anxieties dominate the national conversation. The outcome in this race could hinge on whether voters prioritize those cultural battles or the pocketbook issues that have reshaped the political landscape.
