President Trump on Monday launched a blistering personal attack on Dr. Annie Andrews, the Democratic challenger to Sen. Darline Graham in South Carolina, repeatedly using an anti-transgender slur against the pediatrician as the race tightens.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, "Annie 'T—' Andrews is running against our wonderful Darline Graham for the Senate in South Carolina." He went on to praise Graham, invoking her late brother, former Sen. Lindsey Graham, and called her "the finest, most reliable and one of the smartest people I have ever known." Trump added that when Lindsey Graham said those things, it upset him "because I thought I had all of those qualities."
Trump continued his attack, asserting that Andrews is "not for South Carolina" and accused her of supporting "Transgender for Everyone, Open Borders, Defunding the Police, High Taxes, a Weak Military, and will absolutely fight to take your guns away." He concluded, "In other words, she is against our Great Second Amendment!"
Andrews, a mother of three and practicing pediatrician, responded to Trump's post in a statement to The Hill, saying she is "in this race to fight for my patients, my three kids and South Carolina." She added, "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."
If Andrews wins in November, she would become the first pediatrician elected to the U.S. Senate, a milestone highlighted in an interview with Motherly published in May. In that interview, she said, "I want my kids to know they are capable of doing anything they put their minds to. That every fight is worth fighting no matter how difficult it seems. I want them to know I am doing this for them. That they give me the strength I need to keep going."
Andrews has campaigned on reversing Trump-era policies that she says have driven up costs, particularly healthcare and children's healthcare expenses, as reported by The New York Times. However, she has also moderated some of her previous positions, including on transgender issues, as she appeals to a largely conservative electorate. She previously opposed a bill banning transgender athletes from girls' and women's sports but told the Times she does not "support biological men playing in women's sports."
The Cook Political Report recently shifted the race from "solid Republican" to "likely Republican," citing Graham's debate performance and Andrews' persistent campaigning. The report credited Andrews with "running a real race" and suggested she could make it "a truly competitive contest."
A Republican official told the Times that Trump plans to campaign for Graham later this month, underscoring the race's growing significance. The president's latest attack reflects his willingness to use inflammatory language against political opponents, a tactic that has become a hallmark of his rallies and social media presence.
This is not the first time Trump has employed such rhetoric on the campaign trail, and his comments are likely to draw criticism from LGBTQ advocates and Democrats, while energizing his base. The South Carolina Senate race, once considered safely Republican, is now drawing national attention as Democrats see a potential pickup opportunity.
