Trump uses anti-transgender slur against South Carolina Senate candidate

President Donald Trump sparks intense backlash after using an anti-transgender slur to mock South Carolina Democratic Senate nominee Dr. Annie Andrews on Truth Social. Trump refers to Andrews, a pediatrician who is not transgender, as "Trannie" while boosting his handpicked Republican candidate, Senator Darline Graham. The attack comes as the Cook Political Report shifts the historically safe Republican race to "Likely Republican," signaling a tightening contest. Andrews responds by focusing on her platform of lowering costs, while LGBTQ advocates and Democrats strongly condemn Trump's rhetoric.

Donald Trump's Truth Social post

• ▪President Donald Trump claimed in his October 5, 2026 Truth Social post that Dr. Annie Andrews is not transgender but supports progressive policies like "Transgender for Everyone, Open Borders, Defunding the Police, High Taxes, a Weak Military, and will absolutely fight to take your guns away."
• ▪President Donald Trump used an anti-transgender slur, referring to Democratic South Carolina Senate nominee Dr. Annie Andrews as "Trannie" three times in a Truth Social post on October 5, 2026

Reactions to Donald Trump's remarks

• ▪Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned Donald Trump's words on October 5, 2026, calling his anti-transgender attacks on Dr. Annie Andrews "despicable."
• ▪Dr. Annie Andrews responded to Donald Trump's Truth Social post on October 5, 2026 by stating she is in the race to fight for her patients, her three kids, and South Carolina, and will work with anyone to lower costs

Campaign clash over transgender policy positions

• ▪Senator Darline Graham's campaign launched a website called "Dr. Annie's Waiting Room" to attack Dr. Annie Andrews over her alleged support of gender transitions for minors and transgender athletes in women's sports
• ▪Republicans in South Carolina have criticized Dr. Annie Andrews for her past positions on transgender issues, including her previous support for providing hormone treatment to children

Donald Trump's support for Darline Graham

• ▪Donald Trump's MAGA Inc. PAC spent more than $800,000 to support Senator Darline Graham in her successful Republican primary runoff against Representative Ralph Norman in August 2026
• ▪President Donald Trump endorsed Senator Darline Graham for a full six-year term less than a week after her brother, Senator Lindsey Graham, died of heart complications in July 2026

South Carolina Senate race outlook

• ▪South Carolina has not elected a Democratic senator since 1956, and the late Senator Lindsey Graham, Darline Graham's brother, never won an election in the state by fewer than 10 points
• ▪The Cook Political Report shifted its rating of the South Carolina Senate race from "Solid Republican" to "Likely Republican" as the contest between Republican Senator Darline Graham and Democrat Dr. Annie Andrews tightened

Debatable claims

• ▪Transgender policy is a legitimate central issue for the South Carolina Senate race
• ▪Donald Trump should refrain from using personal slurs during campaigns
• ▪Gender-affirming hormone treatments for minors do more harm than good
• ▪Trump's aggressive rhetoric does more harm than good for Darline Graham's campaign