“Another lunatic” President Trump criticizes Troy Jackson in speech at WHCA dinner
President Donald Trump called Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Troy Jackson a “lunatic” during his speech Friday night at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.
WASHINGTON (WMTW) - President Donald Trump called Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Troy Jackson a “lunatic” during his speech Friday night at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.
Trump first criticized Democrats for nominating Graham Platner, who withdrew from the race after a former girlfriend accused him of sexual assault. Platner denied the allegation.
“I really do wonder if the Democrats are trying to lose the midterms,” Trump said. “In Maine, they nominated a guy with a Nazi tattoo.”
Platner previously acknowledged having a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol and had it covered.
Trump said Platner did not defend himself well and that it “looked like he was guilty of a lot of stuff.” The president then turned his attention to Jackson.
“Don’t worry, Democrats,” Trump said. “Word is, Platner’s replacement — he throws bottles at women. This guy throws bottles. This guy’s another lunatic, by the way.”
Trump appeared to be referring to an incident from about five years ago in which Jackson, then president of the Maine Senate, threw a plastic water bottle during a heated private meeting with Democratic lawmakers, according to a report from CNN. Accounts differed over whether Jackson threw the bottle toward a female lawmaker. His campaign told CNN the bottle was thrown away from others and struck no one, adding that Jackson took responsibility and apologized.
Jackson is now the official Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate.
“I’m sure there’ll be more things that President Trump will say about me, but I don’t care,” Jackson said in response to Trump’s remarks. “I know who I’m fighting for, and I sure as hell know he’s fighting for.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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