President Donald Trump launched another round of attacks on Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico during his final Lone Star State rally Tuesday night, claiming—without providing evidence—that Talarico believes Jesus would support sex changes.
Trump appeared at rallies in Corpus Christi and Lubbock in a last-minute effort to boost Talarico’s Republican opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Polls have shown Paxton trailing or running neck and neck with the Democrat.
At both events, Trump played a video produced by the Paxton campaign featuring controversial remarks from Talarico about God being “non-binary,” along with statements expressing support for transgender people.
“Not only did Talafreako state that God is transgender, he actually said that if Jesus Christ himself came and visited the Texas legislature, Jesus would be promoting sex changes for little children,” Trump said during the Lubbock rally Tuesday night.
Talarico, a seminary student, had previously said that if Jesus appeared at the Texas legislature, he “would tell us blessed are the trans children who were bullied.”
The Democrat’s support for transgender rights has become a central line of attack in the closely contested Texas Senate race.
Trump also alleged that “Talafreako”—his nickname for Talarico—“wants to get rid of your guns.”
“He wants to get rid of your oil. Wants to get rid of your meat. He can’t stand the stuff,” the President added.
President Donald Trump launched fresh attacks on Democratic Texas Senate hopeful, state House Representative James Talarico, at his final rally in Texas Tuesday night
During the rally, President Donald Trump played a video courtesy of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s Senate campaign that showed Democratic hopeful James Talarico saying that “God is non-binary” and expressing other pro-transgender views
Paxton has also portrayed Talarico as a “vegan,” although Talarico eats meat. The characterization stems from comments in which the Democrat discussed reducing meat consumption.
Trump has joked with Texas audiences about his own fondness for meat, saying he once mispronounced the word “vegan” as “vay-gan.”
“I used to say vay-gan, but my wife said it’s not vay-gan, it’s vegan,” Trump said Tuesday night.
Paxton, speaking at the rally, sought to attract more support by suggesting that Trump could one day become a Texas resident.
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“You know, I know the President is the leader of the free world, and he’s our leader, but occasionally we have good ideas in Texas, don’t you think?” Paxton told the crowd.
“So I have actually, I have a suggestion for him. So I know he has kind of two houses right now, one in the White House and one in Florida, but someday, he might need a second home. What do you think if he moves to Lubbock, Texas?” Paxton said.
The crowd responded with cheers.
“I think you guys like that idea,” Paxton added.
Republican Senate hopeful and Attorney General Ken Paxton, left, shakes hands with a young rally attendee during Tuesday night’s Trump rally in Lubbock, Texas
Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz stands to be recognized during Tuesday night’s Trump rally in Lubbock, Texas
Paxton then noted how the election might hinge on West Texas, the most Republican part of the state.
Trump has been traveling to redder areas to turn out the MAGA vote this cycle, instead of trying to attract crossover Democrats and moderates.
The President’s endorsement of Paxton in Lubbock was: ‘If he were lousy, I could be in other places,’ Trump said.
Paxton’s campaign has been hobbled by a wave of previous corruption scandals, including a 2023 impeachment and a high-profile separation from his wife after two alleged affairs.
Still, Trump backed Paxton, who is more aligned with the MAGA movement, over incumbent Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn in the GOP primary.
‘If we lose this thing, it could be a disaster,’ Trump said. ‘And they spent hundreds of millions of dollars on him.’
‘All lies,’ the President protested.
