Daily Mail
· collected 2026-10-02 · by Stephen M. Lepore
At a rally in Denton, Donald Trump jokingly referred to Texas Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton as "a pain in the a**," despite earlier praising him as one of the most loyal supporters. This comes after leaked audio revealed that Paxton privately admitted his poll numbers dropped following Trump's midterm convention in Dallas. The race between Paxton and Democrat James Talarico is seen as crucial for determining control of the Senate, with Trump expressing both criticism and support towards Paxton at the rally.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-02,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance began a 32-day campaign tour on October 1, traveling to Texas and Oklahoma, aiming to boost lagging enthusiasm among Republican voters ahead of the November midterm elections. In Texas, Trump visited a truck factory in Denton before heading to Durant, Oklahoma, for a rally to support Senatorial candidate Ken Paxton against Democrat James Talarico. Despite polls showing the race as a toss-up, Trump urged Texans to vote for Paxton, emphasizing his trade and economic achievements while criticizing Democrats' stance on key issues. Meanwhile, Vance campaigned in Florida, as both officials seek to counteract voter discontent over high costs and gas prices amid ongoing concerns about the unpopular war with Iran. Republicans are increasingly worried about their chances of retaining control of Congress due to these challenges.
Written for “Trump Midterm Campaign Blitz” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 15 other(s) covering the same event.
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Donald Trump playfully joked that Texas Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton was 'a pain in the a**' while speaking at a rally.
asserted
Paxton → sign → rally
The President made the comment as Paxton tries to defeat Democrat upstart James Talarico in a race that could decide control of the Senate.
uncertain
that → make → Senate
Trump has reportedly become frustrated with Paxton in recent weeks after the Texas attorney general claimed the GOP midterm convention cratered his poll numbers.
uncertain
convention → become → numbers
'When I was being hit by the radical left… Ken Paxton was at my side, more than anybody, and I have to always remember that because he can be a pain in the a** sometimes — I'll be honest,' he said.
asserted
he → hit → *
Paxton was photographed in attendance at the rally.
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Paxton → photograph → rally
Trump claimed to not be aware he was there.
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he → claim → ?
I didn't even know if he was here!
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he → know → ?
I don't care,' Trump said.
asserted
Trump → care → ?
'I would say the same thing whether... the guy is the greatest attorney general in the United States of America.'
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guy → say → America
Trump did add that the controversial Texas attorney general has been 'a friend of mine for a long time, one of the most loyal people.'
The Daily Mail has reached out to General Paxton and Representative Talarico for comment.
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Mail → add → comment
Donald Trump playfully joked that Texas Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton was 'a pain in the a**' as he spoke at a rally for the state attorney general Thursday
After rumors Trump has become more and more frustrated with Paxton (pictured) in recent weeks after he privately admitted that Trump's midterm convention dragged down his poll numbers, Trump had some more jibes at a rally in Denton
Earlier this week, it was revealed in leaked audio that he felt Trump's midterm event in Texas weakened his campaign.
One attendee asked Paxton whether a certain figure was weighing down his campaign: 'Do you feel like he’s a little bit of a drag?'
asserted
he → joke → drag
The muffled recording does not make clear exactly who the questioner meant.
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meant → make → who
'When we did that convention... it dropped our numbers.
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it → do → numbers
Everybody's numbers dropped,' Paxton replied.
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Paxton → drop → ?
Paxton owes his spot on the ballot to Trump, whose endorsement propelled him past longtime incumbent Republican Senator John Cornyn in a contentious primary earlier this year.
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endorsement → owe → primary
The President personally pushed for the unusual midterm gathering, which was held in Dallas this month and largely doubled as a celebration of his time in the White House.
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which → push → House
Paxton was front and center throughout the event, landing a prime seat in the arena and working the room for donor cash.
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Paxton → land → cash
Trump hailed him onstage as the best attorney general in the country even as he ribbed him about his looks and fashion sense.
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he → hail → looks
The recording was handed to the Times by an attendee who opposes Paxton's campaign, and three other sources with knowledge of the fundraiser confirmed he was there.
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he → hand → fundraiser
The President has often made jokes at Paxton's expense while he tries to defeat Democrat upstart James Talarico (pictured) in a race that could decide control of the Senate
Paxton owes his spot on the ballot to Trump, whose endorsement propelled him past longtime incumbent Republican Senator John Cornyn in a contentious primary earlier this year
Senior Paxton adviser Nick Maddux accused the Times of manipulating the audio to invent a story.
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Maddux → make → story
'Our latest poll from the last week has Ken Paxton leading by three points, and every serious pollster will tell you that our numbers have improved since early September,' Maddux said.
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Maddux → have → September
'Ken Paxton is going to win this race, and he looks forward to closing strong alongside President Trump, including when he comes to Texas this week.
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he → go → Texas
But with Election Day just five weeks away, Paxton has narrowly trailed Democrat James Talarico in a string of recent surveys.
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Paxton → trail → surveys
Trump's super PAC, MAGA Inc, has already thrown $20 million behind Paxton's bid.
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PAC → throw → bid
Trump, however, sees it the opposite way, boasting just days after the convention that the event gave Paxton a major boost.
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event → see → boost
'The fact that we had such a successful convention really helped Ken Paxton,' Trump said at the time.
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Trump → help → time
the convention helped Ken Paxton a lot.'
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convention → help → Paxton
Despite Trump's public upbeat comments, GOP insiders and candidates privately fear that November's midterm elections could strip Republicans of their majorities in both the House and Senate.
uncertain
elections → fear → House
Democrats currently hold at least slim polling leads in six of the likeliest Senate tipping-point states, Texas, Maine, Ohio, Iowa, Michigan and Alaska, according to multiple polling averages.
uncertain
Democrats → hold → averages
Losing either chamber would hand Democrats the power to launch committee investigations into the Trump administration, and potentially open the door to another impeachment.
asserted
Losing → lose → impeachment
The Aporia
