Trump calls Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner a thug

President Donald Trump launched a sharp personal attack against Maine's Democratic Senate nominee, Graham Platner, on Wednesday, calling him a "thug" and a "pig" and questioning his fitness for office. The remarks came during an Oval Office event where Trump signed an immigration funding bill, one day after Platner clinched his party's nomination.

Trump repeatedly criticized Platner's personal conduct, referencing controversies that have surrounded the candidate's campaign. "He's a thug. I know thugs," Trump told reporters. "He's worse than any human being that's ever run for office, probably." He later added, "He's like a pig. I come up with good names for people. I don't want to stick him with that one, although I think pigs would be very upset about it." The comments drew laughter from Republican lawmakers present.

Platner, a progressive oyster farmer, won the Democratic primary on Tuesday night and will now face five-term Republican Senator Susan Collins in the November general election. His candidacy has been marked by reports of past inflammatory online posts, a tattoo he covered up that has been described as resembling a Nazi symbol, and explicit texts sent to women...