Trump Addresses Supporters for Senate Candidate Ken Paxton in San Antonio Amid Protests

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — President Donald Trump on Wednesday sought to rally Texas voters in support of Senate candidate Ken Paxton during a rally in San Antonio, which was disrupted by a series of protests. The protests included demonstrators who interrupted Trump's remarks, with one protester appearing close to the stage. Trump briefly stepped away from the microphone during the interruptions, stating, "He's going back home to mom. But what he doesn't know is his mom voted for Trump." As the disruptions continued, Trump remarked, "Those are really bad-looking people." The protests highlighted challenges faced by the Republican Party in Texas during the midterm elections. Texas, known as a reliably Republican state, saw Trump win by nearly 14 percentage points in 2024. However, with Election Day approaching, Trump's low approval ratings, the ongoing Iran war, and rising gas prices pose threats to Republican candidates. This was Trump's third visit to Texas in less than a month as the GOP aims to prevent a potential Democratic surge in a state they previously considered secure. Notably, Texas Governor Greg Abbott did not attend the rally, opting instead to participate in a hospital dedication event approximately 330 miles away. Abbott, a three-term Republican who won reelection in 2022 by about 11 percentage points, is currently in a competitive race against Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa. The absence of Abbott at the rally was criticized by Democrats, with Texas Democratic Party spokesperson Jacob Long stating, "For years, Greg Abbott has never been shy about embracing Donald Trump... But now, as Texas families get crushed by record-high prices driven by Trump's tariffs and war with Iran, suddenly Greg Abbott has somewhere else to be." The U.S. Senate race in Texas has garnered significant attention as Democrats aim for a majority in the chamber. The state has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1988, but candidate James Talarico's fundraising efforts, Trump's low approval ratings, and concerns about Paxton's character have made the race competitive. During his remarks, Trump described Paxton as "perhaps the greatest attorney general in the United States of America," stating, "He was tough and he was with us all the way. He's a fantastic man." Trump did not address a recently leaked recording of Paxton expressing concerns about the war in Iran and rising fuel prices, nor did he mention Paxton's complaints about his campaign being managed by Washington operatives. Instead, Trump focused on attacking Talarico, referring to him as "Tala-freako."