They Went And Threatened Me With A Good Time! 🥳

ETTD Texas

https://t.co/ByINTx4ysH

— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) May 19, 2026

Senate Republicans reacted with dismay to President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s (R) primary campaign against Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), openly expressing their fears it would make it harder and more expensive for Republicans to keep the seat.

Yes, Cornyn beclowned himself; to no avail.

How'd this work out? https://t.co/V6VTtyoLRn

— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) May 19, 2026

Oh, much more than that:

Multiple media outlets reported the president was initially expected to endorse Cornyn, but Paxton tweeted a Hail Mary that seems to have been effective in delaying an endorsement for his rival, pledging he would drop out if Senate leadership lifts the filibuster to pass the SAVE Act, a bill Trump vehemently supports. Cornyn had already expressed his support for the SAVE Act but soon publicly declared his willingness to ditch the filibuster to get it passed, a position he had not taken before. A week ago, Cornyn introduced a bill to name a federal highway after Trump.

I really do think Trump needs to start sodding over that hole on the east side:

Senate Republicans are livid with Trump. Just now, Sen. Wicker remained stone-faced (appeared to be intentional) for about 20 seconds as he walked into lunch and we asked him for his reaction

Sen. Murkowski says TX is all but lost to Dems now

— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) May 19, 2026

Susan Collins says she “doesn’t understand” Trump’s decision to back Paxton, who she called “ethically challenged.”

— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) May 19, 2026

😹

THUNE tells me of Trump’s Paxton endorsement: “It’s his decision.”

Thune, like other Republican senators, was stone-faced as he walked into lunch. Thune also threw up his left hand as he said it.

(If you know John Thune, that counts as pretty deep anger.)

— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) May 19, 2026

😹😹

Sen. Murkowski says Trump endorsing Paxton “puts that seat in jeopardy” in general election

“how does that help strengthen the president's hand when we lose a state like Texas?”

— Burgess Everett (@burgessev) May 19, 2026

🎉🎊🥳🍾 😎