Texas – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton thanked President Donald Trump for endorsing his U.S. Senate campaign after Trump released a video attacking Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico, calling him a “Radical Left Lunatic” and arguing that he would be an embarrassment to Texas if elected.
“Thank you, Mr. President!” Paxton wrote in an Oct. 17 post on X, responding to Trump’s endorsement and criticism of Talarico.
Trump, who described Paxton as the “Greatest Attorney General in the History of Texas,” said he had given Paxton his “Complete and Total Endorsement” to become Texas’ next U.S. senator, while urging voters to reject Talarico.
In the video, Trump directly addressed Texas voters, praised his own electoral results in the state and argued that Talarico did not represent Texas values. He also criticized the Democratic candidate over his positions on gun rights, immigration and transgender issues, while questioning his explanation for a 12-day absence from the campaign trail.
Paxton’s response came as Trump continued his attacks on Talarico, accusing the Democratic candidate of holding positions that conflict with conservative views on religion, gun rights, immigration and transgender issues.
In the video, Trump claimed Talarico had “insulted God” and criticized his statements about men and women, without specifying every remark he was referring to. He also accused the Democratic candidate of supporting policies that would threaten Second Amendment rights and promote what Trump described as the “transgender mutilation” of children.
Trump further claimed that Talarico wanted open borders and warned that his election would undermine Texas’ security and political values.
The president also repeated his criticism of Talarico’s dietary choices, claiming the candidate was a vegan who had begun eating meat for political reasons and became sick as a result. Trump said Talarico had been absent for 12 days and accused him of lying about having the flu.
However, those claims about Talarico’s diet have been challenged by fact-checkers. PolitiFact reported on Oct. 13 that it found no evidence supporting Trump’s repeated story that Talarico had been vomiting after eating meat. The report also noted that Talarico had appeared in photographs and videos consuming meat and other animal products.
Talarico’s absence from the campaign trail had previously become a major point of contention between the candidates. ABC News reported on Oct. 8 that Trump and Paxton had questioned his explanation for missing public appearances while recovering from the flu. Talarico’s campaign said he would return to in-person campaigning once he recovered.
The Democratic candidate subsequently reappeared publicly on Oct. 9, attending the Austin City Limits music festival after his illness-related absence. ABC News reported that his return ended days of speculation and criticism from political opponents.
Trump’s video also praised Paxton’s record as attorney general, particularly his positions on immigration enforcement, COVID-19 restrictions and election-related legal challenges.
“He deserves to be your next senator,” Trump said, arguing that Paxton would represent Texans effectively in Washington.
The endorsement adds to the national attention surrounding the Texas Senate contest. Reuters reported on Oct. 7 that Trump had made his third trip to Texas in a month to campaign for Paxton, underscoring Republican concerns about the competitiveness of a race in a state that has long been a Republican stronghold.
The Washington Post also reported on Oct. 18 that Sen. Ted Cruz had been campaigning for Paxton as Republican leaders sought to consolidate support behind the nominee following the divisive primary.
Paxton defeated Sen. John Cornyn in the Republican primary runoff and is now seeking to win the Senate seat against Talarico, a Democratic state representative. The campaign has featured sharp exchanges over policy, personal conduct and the candidates’ competing definitions of Texas values.
Trump’s latest video reinforces his support for Paxton while escalating his personal criticism of Talarico ahead of the November midterm election. Neither the endorsement nor the attacks resolve the underlying policy disagreements between the candidates, but they underscore the central role Trump is playing in the Republican effort to retain the seat.
For Paxton, the president’s backing offers another high-profile show of support as he seeks to turn his attorney general record and alignment with Trump into votes. For Talarico, the president’s remarks add to the national spotlight surrounding his campaign and the increasingly contentious fight over Texas’ Senate seat.
