Trump blasts ‘disloyal’ John Cornyn, urges Texas Republicans to back Ken Paxton
AUSTIN, TEXAS: President Donald Trump called on Texas Republicans to back Attorney General Ken Paxton over Sen. John Cornyn, using a weekend message to cast the longtime senator as “disloyal” to his agenda.
Days after formally endorsing Paxton in the state’s high-stakes Republican Senate primary, Trump took to Truth Social on Sunday and urged GOP voters to remember where candidates stood on his priorities ahead of Tuesday’s runoff.
Trump calls John Cornyn ‘disloyal’ while backing Ken Paxton
“TEXAS, REMEMBER!” Trump began. “Ken Paxton was a GREAT Attorney General, probably the best in the Country. He was also very loyal to your favorite President, ME, as the Dumocrats played their ultimate game of Weaponization, and failed, BADLY! I LOVE Texas, and WON it all three times, getting, by far, the highest (A Record!) Vote in the History of that Great & Beautiful State.”
The president then turned toward Paxton’s opponent.
“Ken’s opponent was VERY disloyal to me, as President, and didn’t fight hard enough for the desperately needed SAVE AMERICA ACT – VOTER I.D., PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP, NO MAIL-IN BALLOTS (with exceptions for Military, Illness, Disability, or Travel!),” Trump wrote, appearing to refer to Cornyn. “What more needs to be said??? Vote for Ken Paxton on Tuesday, HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!!!!”
The endorsement itself came only last week. Trump notably waited until late in the contest to weigh in on what has become one of the GOP’s most closely watched Senate primaries.
Announcing his backing of Paxton, Trump described him as “a true MAGA Warrior who has ALWAYS delivered for Texas, and will continue to do so in the United States Senate.”
Critics, however, argued Paxton’s aggressive embrace of Trump priorities, especially the SAVE America Act, looked more strategic than ideological. Back in March, Paxton strongly promoted the legislation.
“The Save America Act is the most important bill the US Senate could ever pass, and I’m committed to helping President Trump get it done,” Paxton wrote. “I would consider dropping out of this race if Senate Leadership agrees to lift the filibuster and passes the SAVE America Act.”
Paxton also highlighted his long-standing relationship with Trump.
“The truth is clear: No one has been more loyal to Donald Trump than me—fighting the stolen 2020 election, being in Mar-a-Lago when he announced his 2024 campaign, and standing with him in NY in the face of lawfare,” he declared.
Senate Republicans criticize Trump’s endorsement of Ken Paxton
Trump’s endorsement did not sit well with some Senate Republicans, several of whom openly questioned the decision to back Paxton over Cornyn.
Sen. Susan Collins voiced disappointment over the move.
“I don’t understand. He is an ethically challenged individual,” Collins said of Paxton. “John Cornyn is an outstanding senator and deserved in my judgment the president’s support. Obviously, it’s the president’s call but I’m disappointed that he did it.”
Sen. Thom Tillis was even sharper in his criticism.
“To call Paxton ethically challenged is to call Jeffrey Dahmer suffering from an eating disorder,” Tillis told CNN’s Jake Tapper. “This guy is an empty suit and will do us no service by being in the U.S. Congress.”
“I hope that Texans realize how tough [incumbent Senator] John Cornyn is, how pro-Second Amendment he is, how pro-limited government he is, how pro-America first he is,” Tillis said.
“And when they go to the polls on Tuesday, I hope that they know that they have got a great American who deserves reelection, and the other guy is going to be nothing but an anchor on our conference for as long as he’s in the US Senate.”
The runoff is set to be decided on Tuesday following a hard-fought campaign between the Texas attorney general and the incumbent senator.
