President Donald Trump is signaling frustration with one of his longtime Republican allies as the heated Texas Senate primary battle moves toward a decisive runoff election.
During a recent interview, Trump warned Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton that refusing to withdraw from the race—if the president ultimately backs another candidate—could hurt him politically.
Trump’s remarks highlight growing tension inside the Republican Party as it prepares for a critical Senate contest in one of the nation’s most closely watched states.
Trump Issues Warning To Paxton
When asked about Paxton’s recent statement that he plans to remain in the race no matter who receives Trump’s endorsement, the president responded bluntly.
“Well, that’s bad for him to say,” Trump said. “That is bad for him. So maybe that leads me to go the other direction.”
The comment suggests Trump could shift his support toward incumbent Republican Senator John Cornyn if Paxton refuses to step aside in the interest of party unity.
The race has quickly become one of the most closely watched Republican primary battles of the election cycle.
Paxton Refuses To Drop Out
Despite Trump’s warning, Paxton has made it clear he intends to continue his campaign.
Speaking in a recent interview, the Texas attorney general criticized Cornyn’s record and argued that the longtime senator has failed to fully represent the priorities of Texas voters.
Paxton also claimed that many of the policies championed by President Trump during his administration were opposed by Cornyn in Washington.
Paxton said he has spent the past year campaigning against Cornyn because he believes the senator has not effectively represented Texas voters.
The attorney general has built much of his campaign around the argument that Texas voters are ready for new leadership in the Senate.
Trump Says Endorsement Is Coming Soon
President Trump has not yet formally endorsed a candidate in the race, but he has indicated that a decision is coming soon.
In a recent post on Truth Social, Trump praised both Republican candidates for their campaigns but emphasized the need for the party to unite quickly.
Trump warned that internal divisions could distract Republicans from defeating their Democratic opponent in the general election.
“Both John and Ken ran great races,” Trump wrote, “but now we must focus completely on winning.”
Republicans Worried About Costly Primary Fight
Many Republican strategists are increasingly concerned that a prolonged intra-party battle could drain valuable campaign resources ahead of November.
Texas has traditionally been a strong Republican state, but party leaders want to avoid giving Democrats any opportunity to gain momentum.
Political analysts say a divisive primary runoff could weaken the eventual nominee if the race becomes too bitter or expensive.
That concern is one reason many within the GOP are watching closely to see whether Trump’s upcoming endorsement will help settle the contest.
High Stakes For Texas And Washington
The winner of the May 26 Republican primary runoff will advance to face Democratic state Representative James Talarico in the November general election.
With control of the Senate always a top priority in Washington, the Texas race is expected to attract national attention and significant campaign spending.
For now, all eyes remain on President Trump’s upcoming endorsement decision—one that could ultimately determine the direction of the race and reshape the political landscape in Texas.