President Donald Trump formally endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Tuesday in the Republican Senate runoff race, backing the conservative firebrand over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and intensifying one of the GOP’s most closely watched primary battles.

In a lengthy Truth Social statement, Trump praised Paxton as a loyal supporter of the MAGA movement and portrayed the runoff as a defining fight over the future direction of the Republican Party.

“The Highly Respected Attorney General of Texas, Ken Paxton, an America First Patriot, and someone who has always been extremely loyal to me and our AMAZING MAGA MOVEMENT, is running for the United States Senate,” Trump wrote.

The endorsement is widely expected to create major political problems for Cornyn, a longtime establishment Republican who has faced growing criticism from conservative voters over his positions on gun legislation, Ukraine funding, and his past disagreements with Trump.

Trump made clear in his statement that loyalty played a central role in his decision.

“John Cornyn is a good man, and I worked well with him, but he was not supportive of me when times were tough,” Trump wrote.

The president contrasted Cornyn with Paxton, describing the Texas attorney general as a fighter willing to confront political opponents and challenge the Republican establishment.

“Ken Paxton has gone through a lot, in many cases, very unfairly, but he is a Fighter, and knows how to WIN,” Trump wrote.

Trump’s endorsement is expected to significantly reshape the May 26 runoff, where Paxton already enjoyed substantial backing from grassroots conservatives and many within the Republican base.

The president also used the announcement to highlight several major MAGA priorities, including eliminating the Senate filibuster, tightening election laws, strengthening border security, expanding domestic energy production, and defending gun rights under the Second Amendment.

Trump warned that Democrats would move quickly to abolish the filibuster if they regained control in Washington, opening the door to major structural changes in the federal government.

“The Democrats will terminate it on their First Day in Office,” Trump wrote.

Paxton has served as Texas attorney general since 2015 and emerged during the Biden administration as one of the nation’s most prominent conservative legal figures, filing numerous lawsuits challenging federal immigration policies, vaccine mandates, and election-related procedures.

Cornyn, meanwhile, has emphasized his experience and seniority in the Senate, arguing that his influence in Washington positions him to achieve conservative victories at the national level.

But Trump suggested the Republican Party itself has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent years.

“MAGA is most of the Republican Party,” Trump said earlier Tuesday while previewing the endorsement during remarks at the White House.

The Texas runoff is now expected to become one of the most consequential Republican primary contests of the 2026 election cycle and another major test of Trump’s influence over the GOP.

Trump concluded the endorsement with a direct message to Republican voters in Texas.

“Ken Paxton has my Complete and Total Endorsement,” Trump wrote. “KEN PAXTON WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”

{Matzav.com}