Trump roasts Ken Paxton’s ‘look’ and TV interviews while backing his Texas Senate bid

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump didn’t hide his doubts about whether people actually like Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton.

He brought it up more than once on Wednesday, September 2, even while standing by his endorsement of the embattled attorney general. 

That evening, Trump gathered some of the GOP’s most at-risk candidates and members in the White House Rose Garden to brace for the tough midterm race ahead.

Paxton wasn’t there, but Trump still talked about his campaign in front of everyone.

Trump questions Ken Paxton’s popularity for third time

"Ken Paxton, you might not like the way he dresses. And I say this: it's so insulting to him, but I might as well say it," Trump said, shrugging his shoulders.

"You might not... like the way he looks. You might not love his look. You might not love his television interviews."

"But he was the best attorney general in the country, perhaps," he continued, glossing over the fact that the attorney general was impeached by the Texas House on bribery and corruption-related charges before being acquitted by the Texas Senate.

"He was one of the best in the entire country. And that speaks a lot louder than the suit he's wearing that doesn't look so great, or, than anything, frankly."

Rose Garden remarks marked the third time that day Trump raised concerns about how Paxton is perceived, following comments earlier at the Oval Office and during an appearance on the Lt Dan Podcast.

Earlier in the day, Trump told reporters at the Oval Office, "And you know, we have a guy named Ken Paxton. And some people don't like the way he dresses, or some people don't like the way he interviews or talks.”

“But, you know, the one thing about him is he was the best attorney general in this country for the last 10 years or more."

Trump keeps doubling down on his decision to back Paxton instead of Senator John Cornyn in the Texas Senate primary, even though plenty of Republicans worry Paxton won’t hold up well in a general election.

Meanwhile, James Talarico, the 37-year-old Democrat running for the seat, has been pulling in more money than Paxton and, according to some polls, is edging him out by a small margin.

Ken Paxton faces controversies and funding struggles

Paxton has struggled to explain away his many controversies, including being charged with securities fraud, impeached by the Texas House, and accused by his wife, Angela, of adultery in a high-profile divorce, which is ongoing.

And even though Trump pledged last week that he was "going to help Ken Paxton," the president's political operation, MAGA Inc, has refused to throw Paxton a financial lifeline, despite having $400 million-plus on hand.

The race took its current form in May, when Paxton won the GOP’s primary runoff, but the two candidates have stuck to distant attacks without a stage to duke it out.

Paxton’s recent appearance on Fox News, where he called his capitalist competitor a socialist, prompted Talarico’s latest call for a face-to-face fight.