Trump Slams Texas Senate Candidate Ken Paxton for Criticizing GOP Convention

Trump targets Ken Paxton after he criticized the GOP convention, with polls showing tight race in Texas Senate contest.

October 2, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Denton, Texas — President Donald Trump continued his verbal attacks on Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton during a speech at a truck factory in Denton, Texas, where he called the Republican Senate candidate a ‘pain in the ass.’ The remarks came after Paxton reportedly criticized the recent GOP convention that Trump headlined.

During the event, Trump said, ‘He can be a pain in the ass sometimes, I’ll be honest,’ before scanning the crowd and asking if Paxton was present. ‘Oh, there he is. Good. I did not even know if he was here! I do not care.’ This follows reports that Paxton had privately expressed dissatisfaction with the convention’s impact on his campaign.

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Paxton, who is vying for a Senate seat against Democrat James Talarico, has seen his poll numbers fluctuate. Recent surveys show a close race, with Talarico leading by two points in a Fox News poll and by six points in a Marist University survey. However, Paxton’s campaign claims internal polling shows a three-point lead, dismissing media reports as ‘manipulated nonsense.’ Trump also previously mocked Paxton’s fashion choices during the GOP convention, though he later praised his appearance.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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