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PULSE POINTS
❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald Trump has cast doubt on Senator John Cornyn’s campaign claim that he is better positioned to defend the Republican Senate seat against far-left Democrat candidate James Talarico.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald Trump, Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, and Democratic nominee James Talarico.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Trump made the comments during a phone interview with NBC News on Saturday. The Senate runoff is scheduled for May 26.
💬KEY QUOTE: “I’ll let you know that over the next week or so,” Trump said about a potential endorsement.
🎯IMPACT: Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton are vying for Trump’s endorsement, which may influence the outcome of the runoff and the passage of the SAVE America Act.
IN FULL
President Donald Trump told NBC News on Saturday that he is still deciding who to endorse in the competitive Republican primary for a Senate seat in Texas. Sen. John Cornyn is facing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a May 26 runoff after a close contest in the first round.
“I’ll let you know that over the next week or so,” Trump said when asked if he would endorse Cornyn. “A lot has to do with the SAVE America Act. A lot is going to determine — Republicans have to get that passed, because that will secure voting in this country,” Trump explained.
The news has caused another shock inside the Cornyn campaign, led by former Trump advisor Chris LaCivita, who recently had to perform a humiliating climbdown from a lawsuit he filed against a left-wing publication, over how much money he had extracted from the Trump 2024 campaign.
Both Cornyn and Paxton have sought Trump’s endorsement, with Paxton backing the abolition of the legislative filibuster to pass the Trump-supported election bill.
Cornyn – who has vehemently opposed Trump and his MAGA agenda for a decade – recently reversed his stance on the Senate filibuster, now supporting changes to Senate rules to ensure the SAVE America Act’s passage. Trump acknowledged Cornyn’s shift, saying, “I very much appreciate that he is” in favor of ending the filibuster, though he did not confirm if this had secured his endorsement. “I don’t know, but we have to get it passed,” Trump stated.
Trump expressed uncertainty about whether Cornyn is the GOP’s strongest candidate to hold the Senate seat, saying, “I’ve heard that. I don’t know. I mean, I don’t know. I don’t know that to be a fact… I like both candidates very much.”
He also dismissed concerns about Paxton’s electability, stating, “No, I think they both win,” while calling Democratic nominee James Talarico “so weak.”
In fact, recent polling shows Paxton could win even if Trump endorses Cornyn, which presents the possibility of a rebuke against Trump from his own MAGA base.
The SAVE America Act, which has passed the House, is set for Senate consideration next week. The legislation faces significant hurdles, as Republicans lack sufficient votes to eliminate the filibuster or bypass the 60-vote threshold. The bill would overhaul election laws nationwide, requiring proof of citizenship to register and a photo ID to vote. “In addition to that, it’s no men playing in women’s sports, which is very important. No mail-in voting. You have to have ID for voting, a picture ID for voting,” Trump added.
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