President Donald Trump is facing new criticism, including from a former Republican South Carolina governor, over his use of an anti-transgender slur in a social media post attacking Democratic Senate nominee Annie Andrews.
In a post to his Truth Social account Monday, Trump called on voters to back Republican Sen. Darline Graham on Nov. 3. Known for creating nicknames for his rivals, Trump in the same post also referred to Andrews three times as "trannie," saying she is "not for South Carolina, and South Carolina must show, in the upcoming Election, that it is not for her."
Andrews told reporters Tuesday she is focused on her race, calling the president's post a "distraction."
Graham's campaign did not immediately responded to a request for comment.
The post drew condemnation, including from former Gov. David Beasley, who also served as executive director of the United Nations World Food Programme.
Beasley called Trump's language "abhorrent," saying in a post on X that "elections don't have to be about cruelty and lies."
Andrews and Graham will square off in their first and only debate Sunday night hosted by SCETV that will also air on South Carolina Public Radio.
This is abhorrent. Elections don’t have to be about cruelty and lies. South Carolina deserves better. I urge voters to look at the merits of each candidate and cast their vote accordingly. We must reject politics based on division and hate. While South Carolinians can strongly… https://t.co/MrgE5xAh3V
— David M. Beasley (@dbeasley1) October 6, 2026
Gavin Jackson contributed to this report.
This story may be updated.
