President Donald Trump unleashed a fiery tirade against Maine’s newest Democratic Senate nominee during a White House signing ceremony. The president targeted Graham Platner with sharp personal attacks just one day after his primary victory.
Donald Trump calls out Maine Senate primary election winner Graham Platner
President Donald Trump spoke at length about Democrat Graham Platner on Wednesday, according to PBS NewsHour. Platner clinched Maine’s Democratic Senate nomination on Tuesday. Trump called Platner “a thug” and “a cheap, no-good person” during his remarks.
The president also labeled Platner “fake” and “phony” while discussing his candidacy. Trump referenced the numerous accusations against Platner during his speech. He questioned what would happen if Republicans had a similar candidate in their ranks.
Trump himself has faced numerous accusations about his past treatment of women. A court found him liable for sexual abuse in a prior case. The president has also endorsed Texas Senate hopeful Ken Paxton, a Republican with a checkered public past.
Trump also mentioned Jeffrey Epstein without any prompting during his remarks. He faulted Democrats for fixating on Epstein while still backing Platner as their candidate. Trump criticized Democratic senators for making excuses on Platner’s behalf.
The president made his comments while signing the Secure America Act on Wednesday. The nearly $70 billion bill funds his immigration and deportation agenda through the next three years. House Republicans pushed the measure through by a narrow 214-212 vote over Democratic objections the day before.
The legislation provides $38 billion for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and $26 billion for Border Patrol. An additional $5 billion covers unforeseen costs, according to the White House. The bill signing took place in the Oval Office.
Trump’s remarks about Platner came during a broader session covering multiple political topics. The president discussed Iran, trade deals, and inflation data in the same appearance. His comments about the Maine Senate race drew significant attention across news outlets.
Originally reported by Vritti Johar on Mandatory.com.