Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton forced a smile as President Donald Trump mocked him mercilessly for a second night in a row at a Republican convention meant to boost his and other GOP candidates’ chances in November’s midterm elections.
Trump, who endorsed Paxton, has not been impressed by the way the Republican dresses, and he let everyone know during the two-day convention in Dallas.
“And I said something yesterday, and I don't know if he'll ever talk to me again. Perhaps he will. But I said it. My people said, ‘Please don't say that.’ So I won't say it, but I'll tell you what I was thinking about saying,” Trump said during a closing address Thursday night.
The camera then pointed to Paxton, who looked like he was bracing himself for what the president would say next.
“I said, ‘I don't like the way Ken dresses,” Trump said, which prompted Paxton to give off a big smile. “Although I also said he looked really sharp in that suit yesterday. I thought it was spiffy.”
Paxton has brushed off Trump’s insults about his fashion sense before, telling Fox News last week, “I’ve got this sports jacket on. I love it. And we’re gonna just keep going.
“Texas is a relatively casual place in the summer, and it’s hot. We adjust. We wear cowboy boots, and we wear a blazer, and we’re all good.”
The attorney general, who is in a competitive race for U.S. Senate in Texas against Democrat James Talarico, wore a navy suit and red tie during a speech at the convention Wednesday, where he asked supporters for their prayers and votes.
Despite Trump approving of Paxton’s outfit, he still insulted his fashion sense during his keynote address Wednesday.
“He may not dress right. He may not talk exactly perfectly, and he may not be the best-looking guy I've ever seen, but you know what he is? He's the greatest Attorney General in America, and he deserves to be your next senator,” the president said.
Paxton and Talarico are neck and neck in the polls, with the Democrat leading by just three percentage points in a recent survey.
A University of Texas/Texas Politics Project poll released on August 24 found Talarico with 42 percent of Texas voter support compared to Paxton’s 39 percent.
After his jab about Paxton’s style, Trump reiterated that the Republican deserves to be elected to the Senate.
“So I don't know if he's going to ever speak to me again, but I don't care as long as he wins,” the president said Thursday.
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