Key facts
- President Donald Trump called Senate candidate Graham Platner a "thug" and a "pig."
- Trump criticized Democrats for supporting Platner despite his past controversial statements and a Nazi symbol tattoo.
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez previously called allegations against Platner "hard to stomach."
- Platner will face Republican Sen. Susan Collins in the November election.
- Republicans have previously endorsed candidates with significant personal controversies.
President Donald Trump launched a strong attack on Graham Platner, the Democratic Senate candidate from Maine, labeling him a "thug" and a "pig" due to allegations concerning his past personal conduct and treatment of women. Trump criticized the Democratic Party for supporting Platner, highlighting his controversial online posts, a Nazi symbol tattoo, and sexually explicit texts. This criticism comes despite Trump's own history of misconduct allegations and past endorsements of candidates with personal baggage.
Platner, who secured the Democratic nomination, will face Republican Sen. Susan Collins in the November election. Platner's campaign stated he remains focused on issues facing Maine, while the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee shifted focus to Collins' voting record and alignment with Trump. A White House spokesperson defended Trump's comments, citing Platner's self-identification as a "communist" and derogatory remarks about rural White Americans.
Trump drew laughter from Republican lawmakers while making the remarks and also referenced his past association with Jeffrey Epstein. The article notes that Republicans have previously endorsed candidates facing significant controversies, including Ken Paxton, Roy Moore, Mark Robinson, and Tony Gonzales. Furthermore, Trump has appointed individuals to key positions who faced accusations of sexual misconduct, such as Pete Hegseth and Matt Gaetz.