RNC Chair Gruters Slams James ‘Talafreako’ as a ‘Creep’ Vegan Who Wants to ‘Mutilate’ Kids — and Says Texans Won’t Buy It

Republican National Committee Chair Joe Gruters unloaded on Texas Senate hopeful James Talarico (D) during a Wednesday morning interview on Newsmax, branding the candidate a “creep” who pushes for child “mutilation” and a vegan lifestyle — a combination he called a cardinal sin in the Lone Star State.

Gruters, who also serves as RNC chair, didn’t stop there. Channeling a distinctly Trumpian style, he repeatedly referred to Talarico as “Talafreako,” a nickname he first deployed a day earlier on Fox News. The moniker appeared designed to stick, and Gruters used it repeatedly as he framed the Democrat as utterly out of step with Texas values.

Speaking on Wake Up America, co-host Sharla McBride asked Gruters how the RNC intends to keep Texas red in the upcoming Senate race. Gruters didn’t hesitate: “We keep it red because Talarico is a creep… he’s a vegan. He thinks God is non-binary, he wants to mutilate children. He wants to put boys in girls’ locker rooms. People are done with that.”

Gruters pointed to the Democratic National Committee’s recently released autopsy report on the 2024 election as evidence that Talarico is simply recycling the same liberal playbook that most Americans — and especially Texans — have already rejected. The RNC chair argued that Talarico’s positions on gender, religion, and education would alienate even moderate voters in a state that has trended increasingly conservative.

Newsmax then aired a clip of Talarico saying, “God is both masculine and feminine and everything in between. God is non-binary. Trans children are God’s children, made in God’s own image.” The segment also included Talarico claiming there are six biological sexes. Co-host Marc Lotter quipped, “You might as well put just a little disclaimer there, ‘Paid for by the Republican National Committee.’ There’s your ad, Mr. Chairman!”

Gruters doubled down, saying “Talafreako” seemed more like a product of California than Texas and would be better suited to representing one of the “super woke left-wing states.” The attack comes amid a broader Republican strategy to paint Democratic candidates as extreme on cultural issues, a tactic that has proven effective in recent statewide elections.

For his part, Talarico has denied being a vegan this week, though he has publicly supported gender-affirming surgeries for minors — a position that remains deeply controversial in Texas. His campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Gruters’ remarks.

The interview aired just hours after Trump-endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton soundly defeated incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the GOP primary, setting up a general election showdown between Paxton and Talarico later this year. That primary result underscored the enduring strength of Trump’s endorsement and the party’s rightward shift, making Talarico’s path to victory even steeper.

Political analysts note that Gruters’ rhetoric reflects a broader national GOP messaging strategy: tying Democratic candidates to controversial social stances in order to rally conservative base voters. In a state like Texas, where cultural conservatism runs deep, the “creep” and “vegan” labels could prove potent in the battle for the Senate seat.

Watch the full interview above via Newsmax.

This article originally appeared on Mediaite.