Former Republican lawmaker Patrick McHenry went off on Texas AG and Senate candidate Ken Paxton over leaked audio criticizing President Trump.
Trump endorsed Paxton, but audio obtained by The New York Times reportedly shows the attorney general slamming Trump’s inaugural midterm convention.
“So to be honest with you, the numbers — when we did that convention — it dropped our numbers. Everybody’s numbers dropped. Right now, yeah, not good,” Paxton reportedly said.
Trump did take some shots at Paxton during the event.
“Some may not like the way [Paxton] dresses, I don’t,” Trump said. “He may not talk exactly perfectly, and he may not be the best-looking guy I’ve ever seen.”
Perhaps Paxton was sore about the looks dig; regardless, Nick Maddux, a senior Paxton adviser, brushed off the audio recording as “more manipulated nonsense from The New York Times to create a story that doesn’t exist.”
Patrick McHenry, however, isn’t letting Paxton off so easily, and railed at the Senate hopeful for being “so stupid” after Donald Trump “made” and “invented” him.
“Without Donald Trump, he’s nothing. He’s nothing!” McHenry railed. “This guy is so stupid, he’s biting the hand that made him.”
“Ken Paxton is so stupid that he’s biting the hand that made him and invented him,” McHenry went on. “He should say with enormous gratitude that he’s grateful for the president making fun of the way he looks and the way he dresses. As he should, because he wouldn’t even be considered [without Trump’s endorsement].”
“Absolutely astronomically stupid, first order!” @PatrickMcHenry goes off on Ken Paxton, saying that he’s “so stupid that he’s biting the hand that made him.” pic.twitter.com/jBA3msGW4f
— The Arena on CNN (@TheArenaCNN) September 30, 2026
Continuing damage control, Maddux cited the latest polls, claiming Paxton is ahead against his Democrat opponent, radical leftist James “Talafreako.”
“Our latest poll from the last week has Ken Paxton leading by three points, and every serious pollster will tell you that our numbers have improved since early September,” Maddux said. “Ken Paxton is going to win this race, and he looks forward to closing strong alongside President Trump, including when he comes to Texas this week.”
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