Washington– president Donald Trump Laced in Graham Platner On Wednesday, he called Maine’s Senate candidate a “thug” and a “pig” and suggested the Democratic Party was hypocritical for lining up behind someone with so many questions about his past. Personal behavior and treatment of women.
This line of political attack was striking when it came from a president who was himself accused of this Misbehavior with womenHe was I was once caught by the sound Bragging about grabbing women by their genitals And it was A New York jury found him liable for sexual assault.
Trump also backed an offer from Republicans with their personal belongings — but that didn’t stop him from blaming the other side for doing the same.
“He’s a thug, and they’re trying to make excuses for him,” Trump said of top Democrats. “I mean, he’s worse than any human being who has ever run for president.”
Blatner, who received the Democratic nomination Tuesday evening, has faced criticism on several issues, including… Previous inflammatory posts onlineA The tattoo that was covering it Widely recognized as a Nazi symbol Explicit sexual texts Send it to women after marriage. He will face five-term Republican Senator Susan Collins in the November election.
Asked about Trump’s comments, Blatner’s campaign said the candidate remained focused on the issues facing Maine.
In response, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee issued a statement focused on Collins, considered one of the most vulnerable senators up for re-election this year.
“Susan Collins is facing backlash in Maine after voting with Trump 96 percent of the time, a deciding vote for the justices who overturned Roe v. Wade, and betraying the special interests who fund her campaigns after three decades in the Senate, which is why Trump praised her today in the Oval Office,” spokesman Josh Marcus Plank said in a statement.
The White House defended Trump’s comments by pointing to Blattner’s previous social media posts.
White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement: “Graham Blatner proudly referred to himself as a ‘communist,’ called all cops ‘bastards,’ and said that rural white Americans are ‘actually’ racists and idiots. President Trump is absolutely right that Blatner is both a thug and a pig. Trying to compare President Trump to Graham Blatner is exactly why trust in legacy media like the failed AP is at record lows.” “Launching.”
Trump, when he spoke about Blattner to reporters at the White House during Event to sign immigration and deportation funding bill“No one had ever had a record like this before,” he said.
“He’s like a pig,” the president said, adding that “pigs would probably be very upset” if they were associated with Plattner, prompting laughter from various Republican lawmakers in the Oval Office with him.
Trump then brought up another scandal surrounding him dating back to his first term as president: his past friendship with convicted sex offenders. Jeffrey Epstein. Trump sought to paint Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer as a hypocrite, saying he “goes crazy over this or that or Epstein, or Epstein, or Epstein,” but instead should be worried about Plattner.
Later, Trump asked: “Can you imagine if the Republicans had it?”
Regardless of the allegations Trump has faced over the years, Republicans have had candidates accused of serious misconduct who nonetheless received Trump’s support.
President this year He endorsed Texas Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton over incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn, even though Paxton has faced state and federal corruption investigations and the 2023 election bill. State impeachment trial He was acquitted, but he publicly revealed his extramarital affair. Paxton said the accusations of wrongdoing were politically motivated.
Trump also did not back down from endorsing the 2017 Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moorewho was accused of sexual misconduct with teenage girls decades ago. Trump at that time, He pointed to Moore’s denial He said his vote is essential to Republican priorities. Moore’s loss eventually gave way to… The first Democratic Senator from Alabama In a quarter of a century.
He endorsed the 2024 North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson He refused to rescind support after CNN reported that the candidate made lewd and racist comments on a porn website — even though he did. He tried to distance himself. Robinson, who later admitted to making the posts, Easily lost General elections in the swing state.
Likewise, he decided not to withdraw his support for Texas Rep. Tony Gonzalez this year after the congressman She admitted to having an affair with an employee Who later died by suicide. Gonzalez He ended his re-election bidTrump later endorsed someone else.
Trump also chose officials for his government in his second term and other principals who have been accused of some form of sexual misconduct.
This includes Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was Accused of sexual assault This was denied by Trump’s initial pick for attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who faced a Justice Department investigation into sex trafficking and a House Ethics Committee investigation into sexual misconduct.
Gaetz denied any wrongdoing and withdrew his name from consideration. The Justice Department’s investigation ended without federal charges being filed.