Texas Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico responded to a nickname given to him by President Trump during an interview released online by late-night host Jimmy Kimmel on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026. Talarico stated that he found the president’s nicknames to be "getting cornier and cornier" after Trump referred to him as "Talafreako" in various interviews and social media posts. The candidate noted that his campaign has begun selling T-shirts featuring the name, which he identified as the fastest-selling item on his website.
The interview was not broadcast on ABC as originally planned. Kimmel stated on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, that the network decided against airing the segment due to threats from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The White House denied these allegations, with spokesperson Davis Ingle stating that Chairman Brendan Carr has not threatened Kimmel regarding the interview with Talarico or any other candidate.
During the discussion, which centered on the Texas Senate race against incumbent Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), Trump reiterated the nickname in a Fox News interview on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026. Trump told host Laura Ingraham that he used the name because he believed Talarico was "a freaky guy." Kimmel remarked during the interview that Talarico resembled "Richie Cunningham" and looked like a candidate for "student council," questioning why Republicans appeared concerned about his campaign. Talarico attributed this attention to Republican concerns over the possibility of a Democratic victory in Texas this November.
The use of Trump’s nicknames as a fundraising tool shows how candidates are adapting to national political rhetoric to generate revenue, with Talarico’s campaign reporting high sales of "Talafreako" merchandise. The interview, which has received over 6.3 million views on YouTube as of Sept. 12, 2026, continues to circulate online despite not being televised. While Kimmel and the network have cited FCC pressure, the White House has challenged Kimmel to provide proof of these threats. No official FCC investigations into the matter were reported.