{
  "id": 11312155,
  "title": "Trump Calls Paxton 'Pain in the Ass' As GOP Fights For Texas Senate Seat",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/trump-calls-paxton-pain-in-the-ass-as-gop-fights-for-texas-senate-seat",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-02T00:03:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Newsweek",
    "slug": "newsweek",
    "url": "https://www.newsweek.com/trump-ken-paxton-pain-in-the-ass-texas-senate-12514356"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "President Donald Trump referred to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton as a \"pain in the ass\" while endorsing him for the Republican Senate candidate, despite Paxton's loyalty during legal and political battles. The endorsement came as the GOP seeks to maintain a seat in Texas, a state that remains a Republican stronghold but is drawing national attention due to potential Democratic competition. Trump praised Paxton's support after the 2020 election when he filed a failed Supreme Court lawsuit to overturn election results in battleground states won by Biden. The Texas Senate race is seen as crucial, with recent polls showing Democratic nominee James Talarico leading Paxton by a narrow margin. Trump's appearance at a Peterbilt Motors factory in Denton highlighted the importance of manufacturing, as he dismissed Biden's policies regarding truck emissions and claimed his own measures had boosted the country's fuel supply. Paxton had privately blamed Trump's Dallas midterm convention for hurting Republican polling numbers, though it remains unclear if this comment directly influenced Trump's remark about Paxton being a \"pain in the ass.\"",
  "summary": "Trump joked that Ken Paxton is a \"pain in the ass\" while backing him in Texas' closely watched Senate race.",
  "key_points": [
    "Trump called Ken Paxton a \"pain in the ass\"",
    "Paxton supported Trump despite legal battles",
    "Texas Senate race is closely contested"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Trump's endorsement of Paxton despite calling him a \"pain in the ass\" suggests that Republican priorities in Texas may outweigh personal grievances in the tight Senate race.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}