James Talarico claims to be 'Christian who hates Christianity' in resurfaced interview

U.S. Senate candidate and Democratic Texas state Rep. James Talarico claimed he "hates Christianity" in a recently resurfaced interview from 2021 with a transgender-identifying theologian.

"I always think of myself as a Christian who hates Christianity, right?" Talarico said during a March 2021 episode of the "Activist Theology Podcast," which was first reported earlier this week by The Federalist and went viral on X when the Republican National Committee posted a clip.

???? UNEARTHED

In an interview with a self-described “TransQueer” activist theologian, Texas Democrat James Talarico says he "hates" Christianity:

"I always think of myself as a Christian who hates Christianity.” pic.twitter.com/wFEONx03CW

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) June 23, 2026

Talarico, who is running against Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the state's U.S. Senate election this November, went on to frame Jesus Christ in Marxist terminology during his conversation with trans-identifying author Roberto (Robyn) Che Espinoza and the Rev. Anna Golladay, a minister in the United Methodist Church who is also running for Congress in Tennessee.

"I always get drawn back into it because nowhere else, in no other political philosophy and no other economic theory do I find anything nearly as truly radical or revolutionary as the teachings of that barefoot rabbi," Talarico said of Jesus, who he has repeatedly described as a "barefoot rabbi."

Talarico also said the teachings of Christ resemble "the teachings of the Buddha and other mystical traditions," echoing the universalist theology he has elsewhere espoused.

Claiming he was influenced by a "Christian anarchist tradition," Talarico also described himself as a "boring, cis-white man" who "added Presbyterian to spice it up."

Talarico, a lifelong member of the increasingly liberal Presbyterian Church (USA), has made his status as a seminarian a key part of his political persona, but has drawn intense scrutiny for his theological views since securing his U.S. Senate primary victory in March.

Last month, Talarico backtracked on his assertions that many deemed especially fringe or heretical, such as his statement during a 2021 legislative debate that "God is non-binary" and that biological sex exists on a "nuanced spectrum."

JT Ennis, a spokesperson for Talarico's campaign, offered nuance to the candidate's resurfaced remarks, telling Fox News Digital that "the Christian seminarian who's dedicated his life to the teachings of Jesus Christ obviously doesn't hate Christianity."

"James is a devout Christian who fights religious and political corruption when he sees it — because there's nothing Christ-like about powerful people twisting the teachings of Jesus to justify hate, violence, and greed," Ennis continued.

"While billionaire-bought politicians like Ken Paxton attack James for his faith — he will continue encouraging Texans across the political spectrum to come together by loving their neighbors as themselves," he added.

Talarico's remarks prompted scorn on social media, including from some Republican figures such as Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., who told Fox News host Will Cain on Tuesday that he finds Talarico and his views "so weird."

"This guy is just so weird, and seeing that he's a Christian who hates Christianity, I think pretty much sums it up. I know this is a guy who believes that men ought to be playing women's sports, and men ought to be in women's locker rooms. I guess maybe we read a different Bible," said Hawley, who went on to urge Talarico to "read the Scripture a little bit more."

"THIS GUY IS JUST SO WEIRD"

A pair of resurfaced clips show James Talarico calling himself a "Christian who hates Christianity" and praising a "TransQueer Latinx" theologian... you read that right.

WATCH: Senator Josh Hawley responds?? pic.twitter.com/9k7P6GrvBE

— The Will Cain Show (@WillCainShow) June 24, 2026

"I just think this guy, he's got to be the weirdest Senate candidate out there this year for the Democrats, and that is really saying something," he added.

"Talarico 'hating Christianity' explains a lot about his policy positions. What a lying, far-left fraud," said Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., in an X post.

"This is truly shocking," said Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.