President Donald Trump announced his support for Republican Senator Susan Collins in the Maine U.S. Senate race on June 10, 2026 [1].
The endorsement signals a strategic alignment between Trump and the incumbent senator, potentially consolidating Republican support in a key battleground state.
Trump focused his remarks on the contrast between the two candidates. He said, "I’m backing Susan Collins" [2]. He described the senator as a "sane woman" [3], citing her stability as a reason for his support.
Trump used his platform to attack the Democratic candidate, Graham Platner. He called Platner a "thug" and an "outright pig" [4]. Some reports characterized the description of Platner as a "fake thug" [5], though the primary focus remained on Trump's rejection of the candidate's behavior.
Trump said he wants to oppose what he described as Platner’s extremist behavior [3]. The endorsement comes as the race for the Maine seat intensifies, with both parties vying for control of the chamber.
Collins has maintained her seat in previous cycles, but the addition of Trump's explicit backing represents a specific shift in the campaign's dynamic. Trump said his preference for Collins was based on her temperament compared to the Democratic challenger [3].
“"I’m backing Susan Collins."”
This endorsement suggests a calculated effort by Trump to ensure Republican stability in Maine by supporting a known entity over a challenger he views as extremist. By framing the choice as one between a 'sane' incumbent and a 'thug,' Trump is attempting to define the narrative of the race around temperament and stability rather than specific policy platforms.
