President Donald Trump is confident that his pick for U.S. Senate in the Lone Star State will easily defeat Democrat James Talarico, whom he called unelectable because «he’s a vegan in Texas.»

Talarico is a prominent state lawmaker who was only recently propelled to the national stage after winning the Democratic Senate nomination in Texas earlier this year. He has been widely lambasted by conservatives for his history of controversial statements, including claiming, «God is non-binary» and that «sex is a spectrum.»  

While speaking with reporters before boarding Air Force One on Wednesday morning, Trump predicted that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who he endorsed this week, will «win very substantially» in the upcoming primary runoff with incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas.

He then forecasted that Paxton would «go on to defeat a very defective candidate that believes in six genders, and he takes hits at Jesus Christ, and he’s wearing a mask six months ago, anybody wearing a mask six months ago doesn’t get it.»

‘GOD IS NON-BINARY’: TEXAS DEM NOMINEE TALARICO’S PAST REMARKS ON ABORTION, RACE AND GENDER DRAW SCRUTINY

He then ripped into Talarico, saying, «And he’s vegan, he’s a vegan in Texas.»

«You can’t get elected as a vegan in Texas,» Trump insisted.

Trump’s comments reference an unearthed 2022 clip of Talarico giving a speech and calling reducing meat consumption «existential.»

«We have heard, I think, heard more and more issues of animal welfare. I think, not just because it’s the right thing to do, and it’s the moral thing to do, but also… necessary to fight climate change,» Talarico said, adding, «It is now existential that we try to reduce our meat consumption, and that we try to respect animals.»

«So, I am proud to say that our campaign has officially become a non-meat campaign,» Talarico continued. «So, we are only buying vegan products from our local vegan businesses.»

Talarico can be seen wearing a mask during the speech.

TEXAS TEEN TELLS CONGRESS HE RECEIVED DEATH THREATS AFTER REVEALING ISLAMIC BOOTH AT HIGH SCHOOL

Texas Senate candidate James Talarico speaks at a campaign rally in Houston on March 2, 2026. (Danielle Villasana/Getty Images)

His resurfaced comments caused a significant stir in Texas, where beef cattle production is a multibillion-dollar industry and the state’s largest agricultural segment.

«Who wants to tell him that cattle is the #1 commodity in Texas?» the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Senate Republicans’ campaign arm, wrote on X.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, labeled Talarico a «freak» who wants to «ban BBQ.»

«Vote Republican this November. The steaks couldn’t be higher,» Cornyn wrote.

Amid the backlash, the Talarico campaign blasted out a photo of the candidate wearing a Texas flag shirt and taking a large bite out of a turkey leg.

«Official Statement from James Talarico on Vegan Accusations,» the campaign wrote.

TRUMP BACKS PAXTON IN TEXAS REPUBLICAN SENATE SHOWDOWN WITH CORNYN

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, left, faces Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a GOP primary runoff election. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images; Antranik Tavitian/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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In response to Trump’s criticisms on Wednesday, JT Ennis, a spokesperson for Talarico’s campaign, told Fox News Digital that «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,» said Ennis.

A newly active X account bearing former first son Hunter Biden’s name drew mockery from GOP lawmakers and prominent social media personalities after posting its first message Tuesday.

«Your laptop’s reputation precedes you,» Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn wrote in response to the «@HunterBiden» account. 

Fox News Digital reached out to X and Hunter Biden’s art gallery to verify if the account belongs to the former president’s son, but did not receive confirmation. The account has garnered thousands of followers and interactions since Tuesday, when it launched its first message. 

«I’m Hunter Biden. You’ve never actually heard from me,» the account blaring the former first son’s name posted. 

The account’s profile reads: «Artist. Author. Recovery Advocate.»

HUNTER BIDEN HELPED MAKE CAMPAIGN DECISIONS, WAS MAJOR FIXTURE IN FATHER’S ORBIT, AUTHOR SAYS

Hunter, 56, has re-emerged in the public spotlight as he attempts to rebuild his image following years of controversy involving drug addiction, legal troubles and scrutiny surrounding his personal life. 

The X account, @HunterBiden, was first launched in 2013, according to a Fox News Digital review, but posted its first public message on Tuesday. Hunter Biden’s art gallery website is linked to the X account, while the art gallery’s website links to the X account, a YouTube page and a Substack account. 

The tweet sparked a wave of mockery aimed at the younger Biden, as well as a handful of accounts quipping that the former first son would allegedly launch a 2028 run. 

«We’ve heard plenty,» said Republican Indiana Sen. Jim Banks responded to the account. 

«Trust me, we’ve heard and seen ENOUGH from you,» Republican Missouri Rep. Jason Smith chimed in.

Other social media users quickly piled onto the alleged Hunter Biden post, resurfacing past controversies and even floating him as a potential political candidate.

«Oh this oughta be good,» said conservative commentator Nick Sortor in an X response.

«Very real chance he doesn’t remember that we have, in fact, heard from him in hours of podcasting before now,» said Fox News contributor Mary Katharine Ham.

«The 2028 Dark Horse Candidate,» wrote one X user, while another added «He’s running.»

MAMDANI’S WIFE’S ‘STUDENT SKETCHBOOK’ ART IS HUNTER BIDEN EFFECT ALL OVER AGAIN, SAYS US ARTIST

Hunter’s art gallery website links his X account, Youtube, as well as a newly formed Substack which posts the same message. (TheImageDirect.com)

Additionally, Candace Owens tagged the X account in a trailer for her upcoming interview with Hunter Biden, who is continuing a media tour following years of controversy while under the public spotlight. 

The @HunterBiden account reposted the video, writing, «She’s got questions. I’ve got answers. Thursday.»

JOE BIDEN POSES WITH HUNTER’S CHINESE BUSINESS ASSOCIATES IN NEWLY SURFACED PHOTOS: ‘INCREDIBLY DAMNING’

Hunter reportedly moved out of the United States amid mounting legal issues, just a year after his father left the presidential office in 2025.  (REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)

HUNTER BIDEN’S FINANCIAL WOES REVEALED IN NEW MOTION TO DROP LAWSUIT: ‘SIGNIFICANT DEBT’

Hunter Biden has been involved in a string of controversies spanning his foreign business dealings, tax and gun charges, and scrutiny tied to his family’s political connections.

Hunter received a pardon from President Joe Biden for any offense he «has committed or may have committed» from Jan. 1, 2014, to Dec. 1, 2024, before his father left office.

In September 2024, Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to nine federal tax charges in California for a scheme evading over $1.4 million in taxes from 2016 to 2019. He was also convicted in Delaware in June 2024 for lying on a federal form about his drug use to purchase a firearm in 2018.

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Hunter published a memoir titled «Beautiful Things: A Memoir» in 2021 which details his battle with severe substance abuse and family tragedies from his own perspective.

La Justicia de Estados Unidos imputó este miércoles al expresidente cubano Raúl Castro por asesinato, conspiración para matar ciudadanos estadounidenses y destrucción de aeronaves, en una causa vinculada al derribo de dos avionetas civiles ocurrido en 1996 frente a las costas de Cuba.

Esta decisión judicial representa una nueva escalada en la presión que Washington ejerce sobre la isla comunista, atravesada por una profunda crisis económica y energética.

Desde La Habana, el presidente cubano, Miguel Díaz Canel afirmó: “Es una acción política, sin ningún basamento jurídico, que sólo busca engrosar” el argumento “para justificar el desatino de una agresión militar”.

Esto evidencia “la soberbia y la frustración que le provoca a los representantes del imperio, la inquebrantable firmeza de la revolución cubana, y la unidad y fortaleza moral de su liderazgo”, indicó.

La acusación fue presentada luego de que un juez federal de Miami levantara el secreto de sumario del expediente, un caso históricamente impulsado por la comunidad cubana en el exilio en Florida, uno de los principales bastiones electorales del presidente Donald Trump.

Castro, de 94 años, era ministro de Defensa cuando el 24 de febrero de 1996 dos cazas MiG cubanos derribaron dos avionetas desarmadas de la organización “Hermanos al Rescate” sobre el estrecho de Florida. El ataque dejó cuatro muertos. La agrupación se dedicaba a asistir a balseros cubanos que intentaban llegar a territorio estadounidense. Un tercer avión, pilotado por el líder de la organización, José Basulto, logró escapar.

Según la acusación, las aeronaves fueron abatidas en aguas internacionales. El fiscal general interino de Estados Unidos, Todd Blanche, sostuvo en una conferencia de prensa en Miami que la imputación demuestra que Estados Unidos “no olvida a sus ciudadanos”.

“Tampoco olvidamos a las familias, a los seres queridos y a los amigos que han cargado con el dolor y la pena durante 30 años”, afirmó Blanche al anunciar formalmente los cargos criminales contra el exmandatario cubano.

Leé también: Trump redobló la presión sobre Cuba: “Nos está llamando, necesita ayuda y nosotros se la daremos”

La imputación también se conoció el mismo día en que el secretario de Estado estadounidense, Marco Rubio, difundió un mensaje especial dirigido al pueblo cubano en el que ofreció una “nueva relación” entre Washington y La Habana, aunque condicionada a un vínculo directo con la ciudadanía y no con el gobierno comunista.

“El presidente Trump ofrece una nueva relación entre Estados Unidos y Cuba, pero tiene que ser directamente con ustedes, el pueblo cubano”, expresó Rubio en un video difundido con motivo del 20 de mayo, fecha en la que históricamente se conmemora la proclamación de la República de Cuba en 1902.

En su mensaje, Rubio acusó al liderazgo cubano de corrupción, robo y represión política. También responsabilizó al gobierno de la isla por los frecuentes apagones y el desabastecimiento que afectan a la población.

“La verdadera razón por la que no tienen electricidad, combustible ni alimentos, es porque quienes controlan su país han saqueado miles de millones de dólares”, afirmó el funcionario, de ascendencia cubana.

Rubio apuntó especialmente contra el conglomerado empresarial militar GAESA, fundado hace tres décadas por Raúl Castro. Según el secretario de Estado, esa estructura funciona como “un Estado dentro del Estado” y concentra recursos económicos que no se destinan a mejorar la infraestructura energética ni las condiciones de vida de la población.

Las declaraciones y la imputación profundizan el endurecimiento de la política estadounidense hacia Cuba desde el regreso de Trump a la Casa Blanca. El mandatario republicano firmó en enero un decreto que amenaza con imponer aranceles a los países que comercialicen petróleo con la isla, medida que agravó la escasez de combustible reconocida por el propio gobierno cubano.

La relación entre ambos países había atravesado un acercamiento histórico en 2015, durante la presidencia de Barack Obama y el mandato de Raúl Castro en Cuba. Sin embargo, esa etapa fue revertida posteriormente por Trump, quien reinstaló sanciones y endureció el embargo económico sobre la isla.

(Con información de AFP)