The Dictatorship
A rare point of disagreement emerges between Trump and Senate Republicans: Ken Paxton
Senate Republicans rarely break with President Donald Trump, typically skirting any daily controversies by keeping silent or reserving judgment.
But when Trump announced Tuesday afternoon that he was endorsing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over Sen. John Cornyn, Senate Republicans were quick to express their dissatisfaction.
It only took minutes for both Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Susan Collins, R-Maine, to tell reporters they were “disappointed” by the president’s endorsement.
“Maybe he thinks that with the strength of a Trump endorsement Paxton can win,” Murkowski said. “I think that this puts the seat in jeopardy.”
“I’m disappointed that he did it,” Collins said.
During a Senate GOP lunch on Tuesday, Punchbowl news reported that Murkowski told her Republican colleagues Trump was “not making it easy for us,” as he has withheld support from various incumbents and endorsed “ethically challenged” candidates like Paxton, who has faced a series of high-profile ethical, legal and political challenges throughout his tenure as Texas attorney general.
While Senate Republicans have stuck with Trump on a myriad of issues and scandals, the Paxton endorsement was a rare disagreement.
Asked about the endorsement, Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., remained silent. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., told reporters, “Obviously I support Sen. Cornyn.”
“I had hoped he would support or endorse Sen. Cornyn,” Hoeven said of Trump.
Throughout the Texas primary, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has maintained his support for Cornyn. And when he heard that Trump was suddenly backing Paxton, even Thune, who has strenuously avoided breaking with the presidentcould not mask his frustration.
“None of us control what the president does,” Thune told reporters. “He made his decision about that. That doesn’t change the way I feel.”
Explicitly asked about his frustration, Thune said everyone knew “my position on this issue.”
“Sen. Cornyn is a principled conservative. He is a very effective senator for the state of Texas,” he said.
And when Thune was pressed on how much harder Trump had just made his efforts to keep the Senate majority, given concerns about Paxton’s past legal problems, Thune noted that Republicans have 24 seats up this cycle and Democrats only have to defend nine.
“We care about seeing our incumbents succeed,” Thune said.
Thune added that Trump didn’t give him any advance warning about his endorsement.
“I found out, I think, where everybody else did,” Thune said.
Trump’s endorsement of Paxton comes as the president has tested GOP lawmakers on several fronts. Just this week, the Trump administration signaled its intention to set up a nearly $1.8 billion fund to pay people whom the president has determined have suffered from unfair prosecutions — like Jan. 6 insurrectionists. And Republicans have consistently been forced to defend Trump’s war with Iran, which has dragged into its 12th week and has dramatically increased gas prices.
Trump has also continued to push for congressional funding for his unauthorized ballroom while also recently breaking ground on an unauthorized arch near the Lincoln Memorial.
All the while, Senate Republicans have seldom broken from the president.
The Texas Senate race is already the most expensive primary — and runoff — in American history, with more than $125 million already spent before the March primary election.
But Cornyn has long been the money favorite in the contest. Throughout the campaign, Cornyn has been aided by the Senate GOP’s main campaign arm in calling out Paxton. And federal campaign finance records up to May 6 show Cornyn’s main campaign account had brought in more than $13 million and spent over $10 million.
Paxton’s effort, lacking the early start and incumbency advantage, had managed to raise around $7.6 million and spend a little more than $5 million up to that same filing period. Meanwhile, Democratic nominee James Talarico, who narrowly avoided a runoff with Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, in March, had already raised more than $40 million, according to an Federal Election Commission filing at the end of Marchand he had more than $9 million in cash on hand.
Not only is the race between Cornyn and Paxton already the most expensive primary in historyit’s also the most expensive runoff ever. Now, some Republicans think the race will cost the GOP even more to keep the Senate seat red — and Trump’s move likely has made the race more competitive.
“I’d be a rocket scientist to figure out the pathway for Paxton is there, because it’s more uphill and it will cost,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said. “I think we’ll win Texas. It’s just more … going to be more costly.”
Trump teased an endorsement in the race following the March primary, which sent Paxton and Cornyn into a runoff. But he ultimately decided to hold off on publicly pledging his support — that is, until Tuesday.
The endorsement came just days after Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., was overwhelmingly defeated in his primary race after Trump endorsed his challenger, Rep. Julia Letlow, who advanced to a primary runoff with Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming, a former Trump staffer and representative.
“Ken is a true MAGA Warrior who has ALWAYS delivered for Texas, and will continue to do so in the United States Senate,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“John was very late in backing me in what turned out to be a Historic Run for the Republican Nomination, and then, the Presidency, itself,” he continued.
“He was not supportive of me when times were tough,” Trump said.
Following Trump’s endorsement, Cornyn defended his loyalty to the president in a statement on X.
“I have worked closely with President Trump through both of his Presidential terms and voted with him more than 99% of the time. He has consistently called me a friend in this race,” Cornyn wrote. “It is now time for Texas Republican voters to decide if they want a strong nominee to help our GOP candidates down ballot and defeat Talarico in November, or a weak nominee who jeopardizes everything we care about. I trust the Republican voters of Texas.”
Many in the Republican conference have agreed with Cornyn that he has been a loyal Trump supporter.
“I don’t know what you can complain about on John Cornyn,” Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., told Semafor.
“Probably no senator that has done more to support other Republican senators,” Moran added. “And I don’t know anything that he’s done that’s offensive in a significant way to the president.”
Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., said, despite Trump’s endorsement for Paxton, “We’ve been focused on John Cornyn, and most of us are still hoping that John Cornyn can pull this out.”
“He’s very well respected in our conference, and, you know, that has not changed,” Rounds said.
Meanwhile, Democrats see the endorsement as yet another sign that they can flip this Senate seat.
“Look, Texas is a huge mess for the Republicans, and I believe that we’re in much better shape taking back Texas than we were a few days ago,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Tuesday.
Hunter Woodall contributed to this report.
Lillie Boudreaux
Peggy Helman is a desk associate at MS NOW.
Over the course of June, Donald Trump spent nearly every day focusing attention on assorted construction and beautification projects, emphasizing the unavoidable conclusion that the president takes his renovation crusade very seriously.
His allies aren’t necessarily pleased. The Hill recently reported that Republican officials, worried about the midterm elections and maintaining partisan control, have been “thrown off-balance” by, among other things, Trump’s focus on “pet projects” instead of more meaningful national priorities.
The list of projects keeps growing nevertheless. It includes (but is by no means limited to) the ballroomthe Reflecting Poolthe “triumphal arch,” the fountainsthe horse statuesthe “Trump Promenade,” the “statue garden” and the dozen or so additional renovation projects he’s prioritized in and around the White House complex.
But let’s also not forget the helipad.
A couple of months ago, The Washington PostThe Wall Street Journal and The New York Times separately published similar reports about Trump hoping to build a permanent helicopter landing site on the White House grounds. Evidently, those plans have now advanced to the construction stage. The Post reported this week:
President Donald Trump has begun construction on a new White House helipad, his latest change to the historic grounds, according to three people who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the project publicly.
Construction crews worked into the night Monday on the White House’s South Lawn, with the project blocked off by a large fence.
The report, which has not been independently verified by MS NOW, added that the project hasn’t yet been formally announced by the White House, even as construction is apparently underway.
It’s not yet clear how much the project will cost, who will pick the tab and whether this has joined the growing list of no-bid contracts.
Unlike some of the president’s other priorities, there is a legitimate issue here — the latest generation of helicopters really do damage the White House lawn — although this doesn’t answer the other lingering questions or explain why Team Trump hasn’t acknowledged the existence of the project.
What’s more, this almost certainly won’t be the last of the Republican’s projects.
Earlier this week, the president used his social media platform to promote an artificial intelligence-generated image of a gold eagle affixed to the White House exterior. Trump added in his online image, “A Golden Gift to the White House for its 250th Birthday Year!”
The text (which erroneously said the White House is celebrating its semiquincentennial) suggested the president intends to add this gaudy addition to his ambitious renovation agenda.
Recent polling has found two-thirds of Americans are convinced their unpopular president simply has the wrong priorities. Trump could take steps to change their mind, but he apparently doesn’t want to.
Steve Benen is a producer for “The Rachel Maddow Show,” the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He’s also the bestselling author of “Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans’ War on the Recent Past.”
The Dictatorship
Hegseth blasts protesters at ceremony for D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force: ‘Ingrates’
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday derided protesters at an event in Washington, D.C., tied to the America 250 celebrationscalling the demonstrators “ingrates” who are “blinded by ideology.”
The D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force event in Meridian Hill Park was set to begin at 9 a.m. ET but did not start until roughly 30 minutes later, as members of the National Guard waited for Hegseth’s arrival amid a brutal heat wave. Protesters shouted during his brief address, in which he said he was to blame for the delay and praised the troops for their service.
“In fact, this background noise this morning is perfect,” Hegseth said about the protesters, with White House adviser Stephen Miller and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche standing behind him.
“It’s the sound of ingrates, of ingratitude of people who are so blinded by ideology they can’t see law and order and common sense in front of them,” Hegseth said. “That there’s nothing ideological about this group, there’s nothing political about this exercise.”
Some protesters could be heard shouting “Shame!” and “Guard, go home!”
Pete Hegseth: “This background noise is perfect. It’s the sound of ingrates, of ingratitude, of people who are so blinded by ideology they can’t see law and order and common sense in front of them.” pic.twitter.com/aWt5ciuRG3
—Aaron Rupar (@atrupar)”https://x.com/atrupar/status/2072679604184109222?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>July 2, 2026
National Guard troops have been deployed to assist with America 250 celebrations in the capital, though some Democratic governors have warned against their guard members being utilized for a larger federal joint task force to tackle what the Trump administration has called“rampant crime” in Washington.
Many Washington residents are not thrilled with the National Guard’s presence. The controversial America 250 festivities have also sparked criticism from Democrats who accuse President Donald Trump of putting himself at the center of the celebrations.
At the Thursday ceremony, Hegseth suggested the protesters were not from Washington.
“These ingrates will fade away; they’ll go back to wherever they came from,” he said, before asserting that National Guard troops have brought the crime rate down in the capital — a claim that at least one study has found to be inaccurate.
“The crime rate here has dropped in staggering amounts, and the media won’t want to admit it because, of course, they’d have to give credit to President Trump, and then they’d have to give credit to the Department of War or to Stephen Miller,” Hegseth said. “But courageous men like President Trump and Stephen, who said enough is enough, are the reason why this city is a safe and beautiful place.”
Clarissa-Jan Lim is a breaking news reporter for MS NOW. She was previously a senior reporter and editor at BuzzFeed News.
Stephanie Ruhle said she was left “almost speechless” after the release of Donald Trump’s new financial disclosureswhich reported he raked in more than $2 billion since returning to the White House. “Man, it looks good to be president,” the “Money, Power, Politics” host said Wednesday.
According to the 927-page document released Tuesday, Trump’s income has only increased since retaking the White House. The president reported almost $575 million in real estate and golf-related income and another $68.6 million in royalties and licensing fees.
But, as Ruhle pointed out, $1.4 billion of Trump’s 2025 total comes directly from one industry: crypto.
Despite having called that industry a “scam” and a “disaster waiting to happen” in 2021, Trump has in recent years appeared to have a change of heart about digital currency.
“That was just five years ago, but now he is a major crypto industry operator and essentially its top policy maker,” the MS NOW host said. “Remember, he is the one who appointed regulators that changed the rules to hugely benefit the crypto industry, and since he came back to office, he has either completely dropped or settled a whole lot of cases with crypto companies.”
As Trump rakes in more cash, Ruhle said the American people are not experiencing the same kind of prosperity, in part because of the administration’s policies. “[They] are suffering, whether it’s because of tariffs, whether it’s because of inflation, whether it’s because of increased costs, because of the war in Iran,” she said.
While Ruhle noted the president has said he does not choose his investments and has said they are in a “blind account,” she said the American people should not ignore how much Trump has profited since returning to the White House.
“Here’s what you need to know: All of this would be a major conflict of interest — a huge scandal — if it were any other presidency,” she argued.
You can watch Ruhle’s full breakdown in the clip below.
Allison Detzel is an editor/producer for MS NOW. She was previously a segment producer for “AYMAN” and “The Mehdi Hasan Show.”
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