Trump calls Texas candidate Ken Paxton 'pain in the ass' at rally

President Donald Trump called Texas Senate GOP hopeful Ken Paxton “a pain in the ass” and said he was “a little controversial” while touring campaign stops in Texas and Oklahoma on Thursday, a rare jab at a candidate he has publicly endorsed just weeks before the November election. The comments came during a rally in Dallas, where Trump was speaking to a crowd of supporters about the upcoming Senate race.

Paxton, the state’s attorney general, has been under intense scrutiny since 2020. He faces a state ethics probe over alleged misuse of his office, a federal indictment for securities fraud, and a separate criminal case involving alleged abuse of power in a 2020 election‑related matter. Despite the legal cloud, Trump has repeatedly praised Paxton as a “great guy” and listed him among his top endorsements for the Senate seat vacated by retiring Republican John Cornyn. The Texas GOP establishment, however, remains divided, with some party leaders urging a fresh candidate to avoid the political liability of Paxton’s legal troubles.

Republican strategists said Trump’s off‑the‑cuff remarks could be a calculated move to distance himself from the controversy while still keeping Paxton’s base energized. “Trump wants to acknowledge the reality of the investigations without pulling his support,” said political analyst Maria Gonzalez. Democratic opponents seized on the comments, calling Paxton “unfit for office” and promising to use the legal cases as a central theme in their campaign. A senior Democratic operative in Texas said the remarks give the party a fresh talking point to question the GOP’s judgment.

The Senate primary is set for March 2024, with the general election in November. If Paxton wins the GOP nomination, he will face a competitive race against Democrat Colin Allred and other challengers. Trump’s candid remarks may force Paxton to address his legal woes more directly, potentially shaping fundraising and voter outreach. The fallout will likely be watched by national party leaders as a bellwether for how much legal controversy a Republican candidate can survive in a high‑stakes Senate contest.