Trump hints at controversial choice in massive Texas GOP endorsement battle
President Donald Trump expressed doubt about Sen. John Cornyn's viability as a candidate in Texas's competitive Republican Senate primary, raising questions about the incumbent's standing with the party's base.
In a phone interview with NBC News, Trump downplayed claims that Cornyn represents the GOP's strongest chance to retain the seat against Democratic nominee James Talarico. "I've heard that. I don't know. I mean, I don't know. I don't know that to be a fact," Trump said when asked whether Cornyn was the party's best option.
The comments represent a significant crack in Trump's support for the three-term senator, who faces a May 26 runoff against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Both candidates have been actively courting Trump's endorsement, with Cornyn even abandoning his long-standing support for the Senate filibuster to align with Trump's legislative priorities.
Trump said he likes both candidates and wasn't concerned about either losing to Talarico. "No, I think they both win," he stated. However, his equivocation on Cornyn's electability suggests the senator's efforts to win Trump's backing may not be sufficient to secure the endorsement.
The uncertainty underscores how thoroughly Trump's favor has become the determining factor in Republican primary contests, with candidates' electability increasingly measured not by polling or fundraising but by proximity to the current president's approval.