Trump jokingly calls Paxton a ‘pain in the ass’ at Texas event

Trump Mixes Praise and Barbs for Ken Paxton at Texas Appearance

Healfromzero.com – President Donald Trump paired an endorsement-style show of support with another public jab at Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Thursday, calling the Republican Senate candidate “a pain in the ass” while speaking in Denton, Texas.

The remark came as Trump highlighted Paxton’s past loyalty during periods when the president faced criticism. Trump said Paxton had stood with him more consistently than nearly anyone else, then used the moment to make a joking complaint about his ally’s personality.

“And I have to always remember that because he could be a pain in the ass sometimes. I’ll be honest.”

Paxton’s Senate campaign is a major contest for Texas Republicans, and Trump has continued to back him despite repeatedly making him the subject of pointed humor at public events. The president has favored Paxton over another Republican primary option viewed as less politically risky, while also making clear that his support does not prevent him from teasing the Texas attorney general in front of crowds.

A familiar public dynamic

Trump’s comments in Denton fit a pattern that has developed throughout Paxton’s campaign. The president has praised Paxton’s work and loyalty while also ridiculing aspects of his public presentation, including how he speaks and dresses. During the Republican Party’s midterm convention, held in Texas and heavily focused on Paxton and his race, Trump addressed Paxton’s appearance directly.

“Some may not like the way he dresses,” Trump said, before adding: “I don’t.”

Paxton has not publicly responded in kind to Trump’s jokes. That approach reflects the political value of maintaining Trump’s backing in a Republican primary, particularly when the president’s support remains a powerful signal to many GOP voters. Trump’s criticism has generally been delivered alongside affirmations of Paxton’s performance and allegiance, rather than as a withdrawal of support.

For voters following the race, the exchanges illustrate an unusual but familiar feature of Trump’s political relationships: public mockery can coexist with strong political endorsement. The president has often used humor, insults and praise in the same appearance, creating attention around a candidate while still presenting that candidate as a favored ally.

Private concerns after the convention

The Denton appearance also followed the release of audio in which Paxton expressed concern about the effect of the Republican convention on polling. In the recording, Paxton spoke privately with conservative donors and lobbyists about the campaign environment after the event.

“So, to be honest with you, the numbers – when we did that convention – it dropped our numbers,” Paxton said. “Everybody’s numbers dropped. Right now, yeah, not good.”

His comments suggested that the gathering, despite its attention on Texas politics and Trump’s involvement, had not produced the campaign boost Paxton hoped for. The leaked audio added a new layer of scrutiny to a race already drawing national interest because of Trump’s decision to take a side in the Republican primary.

Trump said Thursday that he had not spoken with Paxton after the audio became public. Asked earlier in the day whether the two had discussed it, Trump said:

“No, I haven’t.”

When he was asked about the recording during an Oval Office event on Wednesday afternoon, Trump said he had not heard it. His response in Denton later showed that Paxton’s presence at the event was not central to Trump’s planning. As he looked for the candidate in the crowd, Trump said:

“Is he here? By the way – oh, there he is. Good. I didn’t even know if he’s here.”

Trump keeps the focus on loyalty

Even as the leaked comments raised questions about Paxton’s campaign position, Trump continued to emphasize loyalty as the central feature of their alliance. That theme has been central to the president’s political endorsements, particularly in contested Republican races where candidates seek to demonstrate their alignment with Trump and his movement.

Later Thursday, at a rally in Oklahoma, Trump played video of one of his supporters being asked whether Republicans remained committed to him after the Paxton audio emerged. The supporter offered an unequivocal response.

“100%… Get on the Trump train.”

The clip allowed Trump to shift attention from Paxton’s private assessment of campaign numbers to the broader question of Republican loyalty to the president. It also reinforced the message Trump had delivered in Texas: Paxton may frustrate him at times, but the president still views him as an ally who supported him when it mattered.

Paxton’s response to Trump’s public barbs has remained restrained. Rather than challenging the president, he has continued to operate within the political framework Trump has set, one in which praise, ridicule and endorsement are often intertwined. The dynamic leaves Paxton balancing the benefits of Trump’s backing against the attention created by the president’s unpredictable commentary.

As the Texas Senate contest continues, both the leaked audio and Trump’s remarks are likely to keep Paxton’s campaign under close watch. Trump’s latest joke did not signal a break with Paxton, but it underscored that the candidate’s most important supporter can also be one of his most conspicuous critics.