US President Donald Trump has rallied Republican voters behind embattled Senate candidate Ken Paxton in Texas, as Democrats mount an increasingly serious challenge in the traditionally Republican state ahead of the November midterm elections.
Trump’s campaign rally in San Antonio was repeatedly interrupted by protesters, with at least half a dozen demonstrators removed by police. One protester was physically assaulted by an older Trump supporter as he attempted to leave the arena.
Trump briefly stepped away from the microphone after one demonstrator appeared to move towards the stage. After the protester was removed, Trump remarked, “He’s going back home to mom,” before adding, “But what he doesn’t know is his mom voted for Trump.”
The rally marked Trump’s third visit to Texas in less than a month, highlighting the growing importance of the state to Republican efforts to maintain control of the Senate. Republicans had initially expected Texas to remain safely in their column, but the contest has become more competitive as Democratic candidate James Talarico has gained ground.
Trump endorsed Paxton during the Republican primary after turning against incumbent Senator John Cornyn. At the rally, Paxton was invited onto the stage and thanked Trump for his support.
Trump strongly praised the Republican candidate, describing Paxton as “perhaps the greatest Attorney General in the United States of America.” “He was tough and he was with us all the way,” Trump said, adding, “He’s a fantastic man.”
The Republican campaign in Texas has attracted increased attention following a New York Times/Siena College poll released last weekend that showed Talarico leading Paxton 51% to 45% among likely voters. Texas has not elected a Democrat to the US Senate since 1988.
Trump won the state by almost 14 percentage points in 2024, but his approval rating has fallen sharply. A Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Monday put his approval rating at 32%, while registered voters preferred Democrats to Republicans 44%-37%.
The Republican Party did not plan to devote so much money and manpower to Texas this midterm season. Texas is the nation’s most populous reliably Republican state. However, with Election Day less than a month away, Trump’s poor approval ratings, the Iran war and soaring gas prices have threatened Republicans in virtually every state.
The US Pesident’s political difficulties in Texas were emphasized by the absence of Republican governor Greg Abbott, a close Trump ally who is facing a competitive re-election contest against Democratic state representative Gina Hinojosa. Abbott was scheduled to attend the dedication of a hospital approximately 330 miles away instead of appearing alongside Trump.
At the rally, Trump reiterated his support for capital punishment for “large scale drug dealers, human traffickers and anyone who kills a police officer.” Trump also referred to Nidal Malik Hasan, the former Army major who killed 13 people in a 2009 mass shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, noting that Hasan is set to be executed by firing squad.
Trump approved the execution method earlier in the week and suggested that Talarico opposes it.
Trump Criticises Talarico
Trump devoted much of his address to attacking Talarico, repeatedly referring to him as “Tala-freako” and criticising his positions on issues including the death penalty.
The President also made personal claims about Talarico, including an assertion that the Democrat is vegan and had recently disappeared.
“He’s sick because he’s been forced to eat meat for political reasons and he’s throwing up all over the place. The people of Texas are not going to let weak, gutless, self-hating, transgender-promoting freak shows destroy everything that we’ve built.”
Donald Trump
Trump’s remarks extended beyond the Senate race as he addressed recent comments in which he appeared to suggest that Iran could strike Los Angeles or San Diego. The comments had drawn criticism from Democrats.
“I said it the other day, let them hit a missile into San Diego or Los Angeles on the way. Let them hit – you want to see a horror show? You want to see problems? Let them hit San Diego. Let them hit Los Angeles and you want to see some bad things happen.
“You want to see a country that would be in freefall. We’re not going to let that happen. We protect our cities, we protect our country, we’re not letting that happen. And they’d use it, too. They’d use it.”
Donald Trump
For Trump and the Republican Party, the growing competitiveness of the Senate contest represents a significant shift in a state that has long been a Republican stronghold. With Election Day approaching, Republicans are devoting more resources to Texas as concerns grow over Trump’s approval ratings, the political impact of the Iran war and rising fuel prices.
Trump’s repeated appearances in the state underline the importance of keeping Texas in Republican hands, while Paxton faces the task of overcoming Talarico’s growing momentum in a race that Republicans had once expected to win comfortably.
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