Trump Calls Ken Paxton 'Pain in the Ass' As Republicans Try to Save Texas Senate Seat - Newsweek

President Donald Trump called Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton a "pain in the ass" on Thursday while delivering an endorsement of the Republican Senate candidate as the GOP seeks to hold a seat in increasingly competitive Texas.

Speaking at a manufacturing event in Denton, Trump praised Paxton's loyalty during his legal and political battles, saying the attorney general had stood by him when "the radical left" was targeting him.

"Ken Paxton was at my side more than anybody, and I have to always remember that because he could be a pain in the ass sometimes. I'll be honest," Trump said, drawing laughter from the crowd. Moments later, the president pivoted from the joke to a glowing endorsement, calling Paxton "the greatest attorney general in the United States of America."

Trump appeared to be referring in part to Paxton's support after the 2020 election, when the Texas attorney general filed a failed Supreme Court lawsuit seeking to overturn election results in several battleground states won by former President Joe Biden.

Trump's appearance highlighted the stakes of the Texas Senate race, where Paxton is facing Democratic nominee James Talarico. Although Texas remains a Republican stronghold, the contest has drawn national attention amid signs that Democrats see an opportunity to compete in the state.

A polling average compiled by PollsMax on Thursday showed Talarico leading Paxton by 3.2 percentage points, while other recent surveys have results ranging from a narrow Democratic lead to a slim Republican advantage.

"We need Ken so badly, and that's why I'm here," Trump said while touring a Peterbilt Motors factory to promote American manufacturing.

Later Thursday night, Trump will deliver remarks at an RNC rally in Durant, Oklahoma, ahead of the midterms. In a post to Truth Social after his remarks in Texas, Trump said in part that he was unable to fly to Oklahoma due to a "major weather delay" so his motorcade is driving there. "'The Beast' is going faster than it has ever gone before. It won’t be long," he added.

Newsweek reached out to the White House and Paxton's campaign for additional comment.

Trump's quip followed reports that Paxton had privately blamed the president's Dallas midterm convention for hurting Republican polling numbers, though it is unclear whether the remark was connected to those comments.

At a private fundraiser in Washington last Thursday, Paxton was asked whether Trump had hurt the campaign. Paxton said the Republican convention the president staged in Dallas on September 9 and September 10 "dropped our numbers," according to a recording obtained by The New York Times. He said everyone's numbers had fallen and described the party's current position as not good.

The recording was made by someone who attended the event and opposes Paxton's campaign, and was then given to the Times. Three other attendees confirmed to the paper that Paxton was present, and two recalled the question being asked of him.

Nick Maddux, a senior adviser to the Paxton campaign, called the reporting "manipulated nonsense." He said the campaign's most recent internal polling put Paxton three points ahead and that its numbers had improved since early September.

Trump had also previously said that the Dallas event helped Paxton a great deal.

On Wednesday, Trump was asked about the report and said he had not heard Paxton's comments but acknowledged that "it's possible" the convention could have hurt his campaign.

Trump nonetheless called the event "amazing," claiming that it drew 107 million views, and that other candidates were helped "greatly."

Trump symbolically dismissed Biden's policies during a speech Thursday, dumping a small glass of water onto the stage at a Peterbilt truck factory in Texas.

Trump, holding up the glass, took aim at the Biden-era truck emissions standards, saying thousands in added costs and extra computers were needed “in order to save a glass of fuel like this.”

The president said, "I saved you from Joe Biden's disaster fuel emission standards, which helped you a lot. That helped you. How much was that? So in order to save this much fuel, this much, right in this much, you had to put three computers into an engine, charge $3,000 more, and we have more fuel than any country in the world.

"And now if you add Venezuela [oil], we will have 58 percent of the fuel in the world. In order to save a glass of fuel like this, it's ridiculous," he added, as he dumped the water.

Trump's supporters praised the onstage gesture, while critics mocked the moment on social media.

Eric Daugherty, a conservative commentator, wrote on X, "LMAO! President Trump just DUMPED OUT a glass of water on stage to show how little fuel Green New Scam policies would actually save 'In order to save a glass of fuel like this. *DUMP* It’s ridiculous!' 47 is having the time of his life up on stage in Texas."

Podcaster and author Jim Stewartson, a prominent anti-Trump voice, wrote on X, "Trump demonstrates his strategy on lowering gas prices by throwing a glass of water on stage to represent how much he doesn’t give a sh*t. This is disinhibition—inappropriate acting out in public situations. He’s gonna keep getting weirder."

During his speech, he said he was "so happy" with how Paxton is doing in his race for the Senate seat, adding that "there's a lot of jealousy about Ken."

Trump also highlighted data centers, a growing concern during the midterms, calling some of the buildings "beautiful."

The president has touted artificial intelligence in the past and even rebranded it "super intelligence" on Tuesday, saying that AI is a "fake word." The administration has been an advocate for states and communities to welcome the centers as well as pushing for the U.S. to grow its capabilities on AI.

A Marist University poll last month showed Talarico up 6 points over Paxton, with 50 percent compared to 44 percent. Two percent said other and 4 percent were undecided. The poll surveyed 1,139 registered voters in the Lone Star State from September 17 through September 20 and had a margin of error of 4.4 percent.

A new Fox News Poll conducted by Beacon Research and Shaw & Company Research from September 24 to September 28 shows Talarico up 2 percent among likely voters, with 51 percent of the vote compared to Paxton's 49 percent. Among registered voters, Talarico has a 7-point lead, with 53 percent compared to Paxton's 46 percent. The margin of error in the poll for registered voters is 2.5 percent and 3 percent for likely voters.

Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here. Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Edward T. Cummins