Former President Donald Trump has openly criticized James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Texas, calling him “unelectable” due to his dietary choices and past statements. Trump made the comments while speaking with reporters before boarding Air Force One, highlighting Talarico’s history of controversial remarks and his stance on veganism.
Talarico, a prominent Texas state lawmaker, rose to national attention after winning the Democratic Senate nomination earlier this year. Conservatives have repeatedly attacked him for statements regarding gender and religion, including claiming that “God is non-binary” and that “sex is a spectrum.”
Trump Endorses Ken Paxton and Critiques Talarico
Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton this week and predicted Paxton would win the primary runoff against incumbent Senator John Cornyn, R-Texas.
The former president then forecasted that Paxton would defeat Talarico in the general election, labeling him a “defective candidate” and criticizing Talarico’s previous mask-wearing and religious remarks.
Trump emphasized Talarico’s dietary choices, saying:
“And he’s vegan, he’s a vegan in Texas. You can’t get elected as a vegan in Texas.”
Talarico’s Vegan Stance and Public Reaction
The comments refer to a 2022 speech in which Talarico described reducing meat consumption as “existential” and pledged that his campaign would purchase only vegan products from local businesses. Talarico also advocated for animal welfare and reducing meat consumption to help combat climate change:
“We have heard more and more issues of animal welfare… it is now existential that we try to reduce our meat consumption and respect animals.”
Talarico was seen wearing a mask during the speech, which added to conservative criticisms, particularly in Texas, where beef production is a multibillion-dollar industry.
Political Backlash and Responses
Talarico’s statements quickly drew sharp rebukes from Republican leaders:
- Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, labeled Talarico a “freak” who wants to “ban BBQ.”
- The National Republican Senatorial Committee tweeted: “Who wants to tell him that cattle is the #1 commodity in Texas?”
- Senator John Cornyn quipped, “Vote Republican this November. The steaks couldn’t be higher.”
In response, the Talarico campaign released a photo of him wearing a Texas flag shirt and taking a bite out of a turkey leg to counter claims of veganism.
Campaign spokesperson JT Ennis emphasized Talarico’s focus on broader issues:
“As costs continue to rise and corruption in Washington runs rampant, James is focused on taking power back for working people and bringing down the price of gas, groceries, and healthcare. James is building a people-powered movement to take on this broken, corrupt political system — not any one politician, not any one political party, but the billionaire mega donors and puppet politicians who have made life more expensive for Texans while enriching themselves.”
Summary Table of Key Events
| Event | Date | Location | Details | Notable Quotes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trump Criticizes Talarico | May 2026 | Air Force One / Texas | Called Talarico unelectable due to veganism | “You can’t get elected as a vegan in Texas.” |
| Talarico Speech on Veganism | 2022 | Texas | Advocated reducing meat consumption | “It is now existential that we try to reduce our meat consumption.” |
| Republican Backlash | May 2026 | Texas | Criticism from Cruz, Cornyn, NRSC | “Who wants to tell him that cattle is the #1 commodity in Texas?” |
| Talarico Campaign Response | May 2026 | Texas | Released photo of Talarico eating turkey leg | “James is focused on taking power back for working people.” |
The Texas Senate race is intensifying as former President Trump targets James Talarico for his past statements on veganism, gender, and religion.
While conservative leaders emphasize Talarico’s positions as out of touch with Texas culture, the candidate’s campaign is highlighting his focus on economic issues and grassroots support.
The race will likely remain a focal point of national attention, as Texas Democrats attempt to expand their influence in a traditionally Republican stronghold.
