‘The Five’ co-hosts discuss President Donald Trump’s comments about Texas Democratic U.S. Senate nominee James Talarico and the candidate’s campaign.
The Democratic nominee for U.S.Senatein Texas torched former President Joe Biden's open borders policies as he races to clean-up past comments amid criticism he is too radical to be elected in Texas.
James Talarico hardened his stance on border security. pitted himself against the former president during a podcast interview on "Cogdell Law Uncensored" earlier this week.
The Democrat member of the Texas legislature has a far-left track record that includes calls to "tear down" Customs. Immigration Enforcement (ICE), an agency which he has called "secret police," and claiming the border should act as a "welcome mat" for illegal immigrants.
He is now the Democratic nominee taking on Trump-backed Republican Ken Paxton in the race for a Senate seat in Texas in November.
Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico addresses supporters at a rally in Houston.(F. Carter Smith/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
JAMES TALARICO SAYS BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WAS CONVINCED BORDER SECURITY WAS 'RACIST'
"I called outJoe Bidenfor failing to secure our southern border. I got a lot of heat from my own party for doing that," he told podcaster and attorney Dan Cogdell. "But I remember talking with my colleagues in the legislature who represent border communities. they told me about the utter chaos caused by President Biden's policies."
Those calls. his more moderate immigration stance emerged only after Talarico launched his Senate bid in the most populated U.S. red state where the most illegal immigration happens.
When asked repeatedly by Fox News Digital, Talarico's campaign officials could not produce evidence to support the progressive candidate's claims he was ever at odds with Biden on the issue of border security before his Senate campaign began. while Biden was still in office.
Millions of illegal aliens poured undetected into the United States during the previous presidency. while Talarico occupied his seat in the Texas House legislature.
Talarico said in the podcast: "TheDemocratic Party, we're the ones that should be about making government work for people. our immigration system is a prime example of government not working for people. So I'm a border security Democrat. I believe we've gotta have a sane, orderly process to ensure that we know who's coming into our country."
President Joe Biden speaks during an official transition event to thank Ron Klain for his work. to welcome his successor Jeff Zients.(Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)
While he hasaccused ICEof "terrorizing our country,"called for Americans to"stand up. fight back" and in 2019 slammed Texas Republicans for passing an "anti-immigrant bill" that funded President Donald Trump's border wall project, Talarico said on the podcast this week that public safety should be a priority.
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"But I also think we need to keep out folks who want to do us harm,. public safety is the most important thing the government does," he said.
Under Trump, ICE has been tasked withzeroing in on the "worst of the worst"illegal aliens for arrest. deportation, especially those with violent criminal records.
"James has never supported abolishing ICE. supports more border security — which is why he’s authored legislation to modernize our ports of entry and called for more Border Patrol agents," Talarico's press secretary JT Ennis told Fox News Digital.
"Both parties have failed us on the issue of immigration, so James is running for Senate to keep our country safe by deporting criminals instead of hunting down moms, babies,. small business owners who have been contributing to our economy for decades."
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during a runoff election night event in Plano. Texas, on May 26, 2026.(Antranik Tavitian/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Speaking to Cogdell, Talarico also pitched himself as a defender of theSecond Amendmentwhile simultaneously calling for strict gun control methods.
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"I am a believer in the Second Amendment. I don't pick and choose between theBill of Rights. I believe in the Second Amendment just as much as I believe in the First," he said. "We have a right to bear arms, to protect ourselves, our families. We have a right to own weapons for sport or for hunting,. like any freedom in the Bill of Rights, it's not absolute."
"We've gotta keep guns out of the hands of dangerous criminals. We've gotta make sure that we've got safe storage laws andbackground checksso that we're keeping everybody safe," the candidate qualified.
He positioned himself during the conversation as a moderate Democrat, chastising people on the political left who are "trying to take away people's guns". people on the political right who "don't want to see any regulations."
MS NOW ANALYST ADMITS TALARICO ‘NOT A MODERATE,’ HAS PROGRESSIVE VIEWS LIKE CROCKETT
But only a few months ago. Talarico said hefavored "red flag laws,"which allow judges to order Americans to be stripped of their firearms if they think a person is a danger to themselves or others. Talarico also once accused Republicans of loving guns more than children.
Democratic Texas State Rep. James Talarico speaks during a campaign launch rally in Round Rock, Texas, on Sept. 9, 2025.(Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
"You can’t be the party of freedom. control women’s bodies," hesaid at a 2024 eventwith the Travis County Democratic Party. "You can’t be the party of family and love your guns more than our kids. You can’t be the party of faith and worship at the feet of Donald Trump."
Ennis said that the candidate has "always believed. like the vast majority of Texans, that we must protect the Second Amendment while also enacting popular, common sense measures like universal background checks that keep guns out of the hands of dangerous criminals."
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Talarico also distanced himself from child sex change surgeries, sometimes called "gender affirming care,". said he does not support them despite often earning criticism for his comments regarding children who identify as the opposite of their biological sex.
"I oppose gender reassignment surgeries for minors," he told Cogdell. claiming "the people that are in power" are trying to distract from "corruption in our government."
"So they're gonna use a tried and true playbook to get out of this," he said. "Distraction and division. That is how corrupt public officials stay in power."
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Talarico'semphatic support for transgender childrenhas raised eyebrows since he's entered the national spotlight.
He has said he loves them on multiple occasions, including on a podcast in 2023 when he was asked to name something that he loved other than his friends. family.
"I love. I’m just saying this because it’s all on my mind, thetrans children who showed upyesterday at the state capitol to advocate for their humanity," hesaidon the Superbloom Podcast.
At the time, he had voted against a state bill to ban cross-sex hormones for minors.
Rep. James Talarico, Vanessa Fuentes. Jessica Weitz attend the Featured Session: State Of Being: How To Care in 2024 at the SXSW Conference and Festivals held at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas, on March 8, 2024.(Jason Bollenbacher/SXSW Conference & Festivals)
"I just want to say, I love you. so do a lot of people in this room, and so do a lot of people around this big state. I know it may not seem like it tonight,. you are loved beyond measure," Talarico also said in 2023 on the Texas House floor, according to theHouston Chronicle.
"James opposes gender reassignment surgery for minors," said Ennis. "While billionaire-bought politicians like Ken Paxton spread lies to divide Texans, James will continue to stand up against both political parties to fix this broken, corrupt political system. support Texas families."
Paxton's campaign did not return Fox News Digital's request for comment on Talarico's apparent flip-flop on the border. Second Amendment or transgender youth
Peter D'Abrosca is a reporter at Fox News Digital covering politics.
Follow Peter on X at@pmd_reports. Send story tips to peter.dabrosca@fox.com.
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