Trump blames Cornyn and Rove for sabotaging Ken Paxton’s Texas Senate bid
Former President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, asserting that Sen. John Cornyn and political strategist Karl Rove were deliberately working to sabotage Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s bid for the U.S. Senate.
The Trump post labeled Cornyn a “RINO” and Rove a “Super RINO,” claiming both were “doing everything possible” to hurt Paxton’s chances against Democratic nominee James Talarico. Trump urged Cornyn’s supporters to abandon the senator and unite behind Paxton, whom he described as the “greatest Attorney General in the history of Texas.”
“If Ken Paxton loses, it will be because of weak and ineffective political hacks like John Cornyn and Karl Rove,” Trump wrote. “We cannot take a chance on having a FREAKO, sometimes referred to as James TalaFREAKO, as our man in Washington, D.C.”
The remarks came amid a broader intra‑party dispute. Cornyn, who lost the Republican primary runoff to Paxton by a wide margin, has not endorsed the former attorney general, despite Trump’s prior endorsement. Likewise, Rove recently voiced doubts about Paxton’s candidacy, suggesting that Cornyn would be a stronger contender against Talarico.
Paxton’s campaign has been marked by ongoing controversies, including past accusations of fraud, corruption, and personal scandal. Nonetheless, he remains the Republican nominee and continues to campaign aggressively, while Talarico’s nine‑day absence from the trail due to a flu diagnosis sparked unfounded rumors of a mental health facility stay that were later refuted.
Trump’s public criticism adds a new layer of tension to the race, highlighting the struggle for GOP loyalty in a state where the former president once claimed to have won 96 percent of the counties. As the Nov. 3 election draws near, the pressure on Cornyn and Rove to either publicly support Paxton or risk alienating the party’s base intensifies.
The next weeks will likely see further statements from the involved figures as the campaign’s final stretch unfolds, with voters watching how the internal conflict influences the decisive November showdown.
