President Donald Trump on Wednesday in the Oval Office labeled Texas Democratic Senate hopeful James Talarico among the poorest candidates he has encountered after a reporter asked about Talarico’s earlier criticism of the market economy.

Trump said Talarico has made many objectionable remarks and alluded to a nickname others use without repeating it. He then endorsed Republican Senate contender Ken Paxton as the country’s strongest attorney general for more than a decade, citing effectiveness and effort, and argued that record should decide the race rather than clothing or interview manner.

A CNN account said Talarico in 2020 at a Sierra Club gathering grouped the market economy with racial hierarchy and environmental harm and argued those linked forces must be taken apart, while predicting Texas energy production would not continue. His campaign later presented him as backing markets and Texas energy jobs and said earlier remarks were off target.