Trump calls – In a new podcast interview, President Donald Trump derided Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner as a “major sleazebag” and escalated his criticism toward Texas Senate candidate James Talarico, calling him “worse” between the two. The remarks draw fresh attent
President Donald Trump didn’t wait long to pick a fight. In a podcast interview released Wednesday, he talked about two Democratic Senate hopefuls — Maine’s Graham Platner and Texas’s James Talarico — and framed both as political liabilities.
The exchange came during Trump’s conversation with New York Post columnist Miranda Devine. She said Democrats have a “huge problem” tied to Platner, a scandal-plagued candidate who, she argued, is moving through the race despite growing fallout.
Trump’s reaction was blunt. “He’s a major sleazebag,” he said of Platner. Trump pointed to the matchup itself — Platner is competing against Republican incumbent Susan Collins — and contrasted it with a broader critique of the moment. “I mean, you can’t imagine [he wins], yet he’s up in the polls against [Republican incumbent] Susan Collins. But she’s always down in the polls and she survives.”.
Plainer accusations have already become part of Platner’s campaign story. The article notes that Platner’s campaign admitted he sexted a number of women who were not his wife last weekend. The reporting also ties those developments to earlier controversy over a Nazi SS “Totenkopf” symbol reportedly seen on Platner’s chest. which he has since covered up.
Devine then turned to Talarico, pushing Trump for his view of the Texas contender. Trump answered with an escalation, saying he believed Talarico was even worse. “I actually think Talarico is worse, you wanna know [between] the two of ’em,” Trump said.
His list of grievances leaned into personal and cultural attacks, including comments about gender and behavior. Trump compared Talarico to Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), the 37-year-old candidate Talarico defeated in Texas’s Democratic primary in March. Trump said Crockett was “grossly incompetent” and “low IQ,” but argued she was still preferable for Texas. “But she’s still a better option for the Lone Star State than Talarico,” he said.
Trump then delivered a sharper description of Talarico’s conduct and branding. “Oh, he’s horrible. Talarico’s horrible. With the six genders, with the mask a couple of months ago. Why you wearing a mask?. Vegan in Texas doesn’t work, he’s heavy vegan,” Trump said. He added another jab aimed at the candidate’s political style and even his leisure: “Now he’s going. ‘Let’s have a barbecue!’”.
Talarico has denied the charge that he is a vegan. The article also says the Democratic Party’s X account posted a picture of him eating a giant piece of meat last week.
Trump’s remarks for Talarico didn’t land in isolation. The article states that RNC Chair Joe Gruters took up several of the same lines in an interview with Newsmax last week. branding Talarico “Talafreako” and calling him a “creep.” Gruters said Talarico “did not have values in common with the average Texan. ” and he pointed to issues tied to religion. gender. and public life.
“He thinks God is non-binary, he wants to mutilate children. He wants to put boys in girls locker rooms,” Gruters said. “People are done with that.”
Gruters’ remarks reference a record that the article says includes Talarico supporting children getting sex change operations, and Talarico saying that a law barring trans boys from playing against girls in youth sports was “tarnishing” his state’s reputation.
Still, Trump’s pessimism about Texas may not be shared everywhere. The piece notes that while Trump thinks Talarico has no shot, former George W. Bush political strategist Mark McKinnon told MS NOW he likes his odds. McKinnon’s reasoning is described as tied to Talarico’s ability to “out-Bible” the GOP.
The contrast between how the candidates are portrayed — and how their opponents frame the stakes — is now part of the campaign’s daily drumbeat. From Platner’s sexting admission and the covered-up Nazi SS “Totenkopf” symbol claim to Talarico’s denials over vegan claims and the political heat around his views on gender-related policies. Trump’s podcast stop shows how quickly these races are becoming tests of character as much as ideology.
Donald Trump Graham Platner Susan Collins James Talarico Jasmine Crockett Maine Senate Texas Senate podcast sexted women Nazi SS Totenkopf symbol vegan in Texas transgender youth sports RNC Chair Joe Gruters Talafreako
Why is he talking like a middle school bully on a podcast?
I only caught the headline but if Collins is always “down” in polls yet survives, then maybe Maine voters like her more than people think? Also the sexting part… I mean wow. Don’t know the details but this whole thing feels messy.
Wait so Platner is the one with the “Totenkopf” thing on his chest? Like Nazi SS symbol?? If true that’s insane. But then he covered it up so are we just supposed to accept it now? Either way calling him a sleazebag is kinda dumb but also… he probably deserved it.
This article makes it sound like Miranda Devine is basically driving the whole conversation, like Trump’s just agreeing with her. And the “he’s worse between the two” part is so vague like worse how? Plus I’m confused because I thought Susan Collins was Republican but then they’re saying she’s down in the polls? Idk, sounds like politics as usual, just louder.