Former South Carolina Governor David Beasley has strongly condemned President Donald Trump for using an anti-transgender slur against Annie Andrews, a Democratic candidate in the U.S. Senate race.
Trump, in a social media post, repeatedly used the slur to refer to Andrews, a pediatric physician who is challenging incumbent Senator Darline Graham. Trump also claimed Andrews supports "Transgender for Everyone" and other unspecified matters.
Beasley, who previously served as the U.N. world food chief under the first Trump administration, criticized the remarks as "abhorrent." He stated on X, formerly Twitter, that "Elections don't have to be about cruelty and lies. South Carolina deserves better."
He urged voters to evaluate candidates based on their merits and to "reject politics based on division and hate." Beasley added that disagreements in South Carolina can be handled civilly and with honest intentions for the betterment of communities and families.
The incident highlights a broader trend within the Republican Party of employing anti-trans rhetoric in political campaigns. This strategy has been utilized to target Democrats, with recent examples including remarks made by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Despite the party's focus on transgender issues, some within the GOP have expressed concerns about its effectiveness. A memo from the American Principles Project, a socially conservative PAC, suggested that messaging on these issues "may not be sufficient" in campaigns against Democrats.
Recent polling indicates a close race in South Carolina, with Senator Graham holding a narrow lead over Andrews.