MAGA Faction Escalates Pressure on Trump Over Cornyn Endorsement

MAGA activists are intensifying their campaign to pressure President Trump into abandoning a potential endorsement of Senator John Cornyn in Texas’s Republican runoff. The grassroots movement—already inflamed by Trump’s Iran policy—has launched a coordinated assault on Cornyn’s conservative credentials, flooding social media with clips of him criticizing Trump after January 6 and dismissing his political relevance in 2023. Figures like Laura Loomer, Mike Cernovich, and Jack Posobiec are leading the charge, arguing that backing Cornyn would betray the America First base. Trump had been leaning toward endorsing Cornyn before the backlash erupted, officials tell Axios. Senate leadership, including Majority Leader John Thune and NRSC chair Tim Scott, is countering by leveraging their access to Trump, warning that Cornyn is far more electable than scandal-tarred challenger Ken Paxton. Paxton’s impeachment by the Texas Legislature and infidelity allegations have GOP elites fearing a catastrophic general election loss to Democrat James Talarico—which could cost Republicans the Senate majority. Bannon calls the race “bigger than Bush v. Trump” and a defining clash between MAGA and the establishment. Pro-Paxton activists, lacking direct access, hope Trump notices their online blitz. GOP insiders suspect the anti-Cornyn push is funded, citing Paxton’s history of using paid influencers during his impeachment. Cornyn himself accused reporters of being “paid influencers” for Paxton’s campaign—a claim Paxton’s team denies. Loomer warns that a Cornyn endorsement could suppress MAGA turnout in the midterms, even as some activists reluctantly back Trump’s Iran strikes.

Intel provided by: Eleanor Cross

Chief Washington Correspondent