Trump quips Paxton is ‘pain in the ass,’ ‘a little controversial’

President Trump openly criticized one of his endorsed Republican Senate candidates in Texas, calling him "a pain in the ass" and acknowledging he was "a little controversial" during recent campaign stops in Texas and Oklahoma. The remarks stand out as unusually blunt for a sitting president discussing his own supporters, coming just weeks before the November elections. Trump’s comments suggest internal tensions within the Republican Party ahead of key races, where party unity has been a focal point. The candid assessment raises questions about the candidate’s standing within the party and how his controversial reputation may impact the election.

President Trump quipped that Texas Senate GOP candidate Ken Paxton was “a pain in the ass” and acknowledged he was “a little controversial” during several stops in the Lone Star State and Oklahoma — unusually candid remarks about one of his own endorsees just weeks out from the November elections. “When I was being hit...