Trump Ribs Texas AG Paxton, Calls Him 'Pain in the Ass' at Rally

Former President Donald Trump playfully referred to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton as "a pain in the a**" during a rally on Thursday, while also attempting to rally support for Paxton's closely contested race. The remarks come amid reports of Trump's frustration with Paxton after the attorney general privately admitted that a recent Trump-hosted convention had negatively impacted his poll 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," Trump said at the rally in Denton. He then acknowledged Paxton's presence, stating, "Is he here, by the way? Oh, there he is. Good. I didn't even know if he was here! I don't care."

Despite the jest, Trump added that Paxton has been "a friend of mine for a long time, one of the most loyal people." He also lauded Paxton as "the greatest attorney general in the United States of America."

Paxton is seeking re-election in a race against Democrat James Talarico that could be pivotal in determining control of the Senate. Paxton's position on the ballot was largely secured by Trump's endorsement, which helped him defeat incumbent Republican Senator John Cornyn in a primary earlier this year.

Leaked audio revealed earlier this week featured Paxton admitting that the midterm convention, personally championed by Trump, had inadvertently lowered his campaign's numbers. "When we did that convention... it dropped our numbers. Everybody's numbers dropped," Paxton said in the recording. "Right now, yeah, not good."

This candid assessment contrasts with Paxton's public image as a staunch Trump loyalist. A senior adviser for Paxton, Nick Maddux, accused the Times of manipulating the audio, asserting that Paxton leads by three points in recent polls and that his numbers have improved. Maddux also stated that Paxton looks forward to closing the campaign strong with Trump.

Despite Trump's public pronouncements that the convention boosted Paxton, private concerns linger among GOP insiders about the party's prospects in the upcoming midterm elections. Democrats currently hold slim leads in several key Senate battleground states. Trump's super PAC, MAGA Inc, has already committed $20 million to support Paxton's campaign.