Former President Donald Trump publicly criticized longtime Republican strategist Karl Rove on Monday, labeling him a "stone cold loser" and accusing him of suffering from "Trump Derangement Syndrome." Trump's remarks, posted on his Truth Social platform, came after reports indicated that Rove intended to vote for a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor in Texas, a departure from his typically Republican voting record.
Trump questioned why Fox News and The Wall Street Journal continue to feature Rove's commentary, stating, "Karl Rove is so bad for the Republican Party, and completely wrong so often." He asserted that Rove's criticism stemmed from Trump's past electoral successes against individuals and ideologies Rove supported.
The apparent catalyst for Trump's outburst was a report by The Texas Tribune, which stated that Rove informed attendees at a private lunch that he would vote for Democrat Jon Rosenthal in the race for the Texas Railroad Commission. Rove reportedly cited a "racist social media" post made by Republican candidate Bo French as his reason for not supporting French. The report noted that Rove's only other publicly acknowledged vote for a Democrat was for then-Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock in 1994.
Rove, a significant figure in Republican politics and a chief architect of George W. Bush's presidential campaigns in 2000 and 2004, has previously expressed concerns about Trump's influence on the party. In past public statements, Rove had voiced nervousness about the impact of Republican midterm conventions and warned that Trump's "narcissism" could negatively affect the party's electoral prospects.