Daniel Wolfram
While attempting to boost embattled Texas candidate Ken Paxton in the Rose Garden, Donald Trump insisted his own record is squeaky-clean.
President Donald Trump has some big problems on his hands as the midterm election approaches.
Trump and his Republican Party are in grave danger of losing a Texas Senate seat to a Democratic nominee. That would be the first time since 1993.
The main reason is that Trump endorsed a very unlikeable candidate over the safer bet solely because the latter chose to defy the president on a number of political issues. However, according to Trump, it is not his fault as he is not the problematic one.
A peculiar defense of his candidate
Donald Trump addressed several tight Senate races yesterday while speaking in the Rose Garden at the White House. Trump, unprompted, brought up his candidate for the Texas Senate seat, Ken Paxton.
“We have a good guy,” Trump argued during his speech, Trump insisted during his speech, before abruptly making the moment all about himself. Eager to ensure none of Paxton’s political toxicity rubbed off on him, Trump quickly hijacked his own endorsement to defend his personal reputation.
“Look, Ken Paxton is a guy, whether you like Ken or not,” the president said. “Honestly, I understand some people are controversial. I don’t happen to be a controversial person. But Ken is a little controversial.”
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Paxton is a controversial candidate because of his many scandals. As Attorney General in Texas, Paxton offered a child predator just one day in prison because he had ties to wealthy people who had donated to Paxton.
The New York Times also reported that he was caught on camera in Dubai partying with fugitives charged with fraud.
Going after a Texas Democrat
Trump then took aim at Texas Democrat James Talarico, who is the candidate threatening to beat Ken Paxton.
“The guy in Texas is a con man. Total con man. The guy gets lost for 12, 14 days and says he got the flu,” Trump told the crowd, ridiculing Talarico’s absence from the public spotlight without acknowledging that Paxton has refused to debate his Democratic opponent.
“I never heard of a flu that lasted that long,” the president quipped, before also claiming, without any evidence, that Talarico had spoken badly about Jesus while calling him “Talafreako.”
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Trump turns his attention to Michigan
Trump’s ire was then directed toward Michigan, where he talked about the open Senate seat. Trump launched a fierce personal attack against Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed, who has a real chance of beating Republican Mike Rogers.
“We want to keep our country away from this guy,” Trump insisted, before linking the contender to an extremist group without any evidence.
“He’s a Muslim Brotherhood guy, 100% Muslim Brotherhood guy,” Trump claimed, though El-Sayed has repeatedly denied any personal or family ties to the organization.
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Then came a warm endorsement. Trump threw his full political weight behind Mike Rogers, praising him as a patriot straight out of “Central Casting.” “We’ve gotta make sure that Mike Rogers wins,” he declared, arguing that Rogers loves the nation while El-Sayed does not.
