President Trump used an anti-transgender slur three times in a Truth Social post this week while attacking Annie Andrews, a Democratic Senate candidate in South Carolina. Andrews is a pediatrician running against Republican Darline Graham, the sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham. In the same post, Trump gave Graham his “complete and total endorsement.”
What makes the attack notable is how poorly it fits Andrews’ actual positions. She supports transgender children and gender-affirming care, but she has also said she opposes biological men in women’s sports and gender surgery for minors. Andrews did not address the slur directly, saying instead that she is in the race to fight for her patients, her children and South Carolina.
Former South Carolina Governor David Beasley, a Republican, condemned Trump’s comments as “abhorrent” — a rare rebuke from within the president’s own party. The exchange raises bigger questions about political rhetoric during the 2026 midterms and how voters weigh personal attacks against policy differences. Where do you draw the line on political speech? Sound off in the comments.
