President Trump campaigned for Ken Paxton’s Senate bid in Dallas on Thursday, opening a tour of red states meant to energize Republican voters ahead of November’s midterm election.
Speaking at Peterbilt Motors outside Dallas, Trump called Paxton “one of the most loyal people” while also joking that the Texas attorney general “could be a pain in the a– sometimes to be honest.” He pressed the crowd to back Paxton, who is running against Democrat James Talarico and trailing in the polls while facing questions tied to a legal investigation.
“We need Ken so badly, that’s why I am here,” Trump told the crowd. He went on to call Paxton a “special man” but did not invite him to speak, even though he noted spotting him in the audience: “I didn’t even know he was here.” Still, Trump added, “We got to get this guy elected.”
Trump endorsed Paxton over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in the Republican primary, a move that secured Paxton the nomination. Texas is viewed as a critical seat for Republicans trying to hold their Senate majority; Trump carried the state by nearly 15 points in 2024.
During his remarks, Trump also repeated a false claim about Talarico, saying he is a vegan. “You got a freako. You got a freako that’s running against him,” Trump said. “He doesn’t eat meat. He’s a vegan.” He continued, “To put a guy, a freak like that in there would be such a horror to your state, and such a horror to the country.”
Economic message and a national swing
Trump used the Peterbilt stop to highlight his administration’s trade and manufacturing record, telling the crowd that “this year the United States has added 60,000 new manufacturing jobs, and heavy truck manufacturing is almost up by about, what, 31 percent.” The White House has credited Trump-era truck tariffs with spurring job growth at the plant.
He also argued that Republicans need to better publicize their record heading into the midterms. “Somebody saying we’ve done a bad public relations job, but a great management job,” Trump said. “We have to get the message to get the best numbers of any president.”
The Dallas stop is one leg of a broader tour through states that delivered Trump large margins in 2024 but where Republican candidates are now struggling to match his numbers. From Texas, Trump traveled to Oklahoma to campaign for GOP gubernatorial candidate Mike Mazzei in Durant. Next week he is scheduled to appear in upstate New York for Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman, and he is weighing a mid-October trip to Alaska to support Sen. Dan Sullivan.
“My heart’s in it. I would be home right now if it wasn’t,” Trump told reporters, vowing full effort heading into the midterms.
Rodman along for the ride
Former NBA star Dennis Rodman joined Trump’s factory tour in Texas, wearing sparkly black pants, Crocs and a T-shirt bearing his own image. Trump called him “the greatest rebounder” and noted his past role as an intermediary with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. “When I wanted to get to know Kim Jong Un, when we’re having a problem, Kim Jong Un and I get along, but the one who knew him best was Dennis Rodman,” Trump said. The Oklahoma stop later that night took place in Durant, Rodman’s college town.
