Trump Holds Off on Texas Endorsement as MAGA Celebrates and Cornyn Pushes Back

As CPAC delegates gathered in Grapevine, Texas, MAGA supporters celebrated what they view as a strategic win: persuading President Trump to delay or withhold an endorsement of Sen. John Cornyn ahead of the May GOP runoff.

Standoff Over a Key Endorsement

The lack of high-profile spending or new polling from Cornyn’s campaign and outside groups — including the NRSC and One Nation, a nonprofit aligned with the Senate Leadership Fund — has been read by MAGA activists as evidence that Washington is preparing for a contest between Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Democratic state representative James Talarico.

“The grassroots stood in the breach and said a resounding ‘NO’ to Cornyn,” said Steve Bannon, who has cast Paxton’s run as central to MAGA’s identity. “Polling and spending indicates that the Republican DC establishment reluctantly concurs.”

Paxton’s Outreach and the Mar-a-Lago Meeting

Paxton traveled to Mar-a-Lago for a Palm Beach County GOP dinner and was seen speaking with President Trump, according to multiple sources. Witnesses described the patio encounter as cordial and said the pair discussed the upcoming runoff. Paxton’s campaign declined to comment on the meeting.

That meeting is the latest in a concerted effort by Paxton backers to keep Trump from endorsing Cornyn. Even after Cornyn’s strong primary showing suggested he might secure the president’s backing, MAGA activists persisted in promoting Paxton.

Endorsement Calculus Remains Fluid

Several people close to the White House told POLITICO that Trump’s decision is still unsettled and may hinge on developments around the Save America Act debate in the Senate. Some advisers suggested the president might wait until the debate concludes, while others indicated he could endorse later — or not at all.

“Nothing is dead. It’s all just stasis at the moment,” one source familiar with the president’s thinking said. Republicans caution that Trump’s view could shift quickly given changing political incentives.

Money, Strategy and the Road Ahead

Cornyn allies say the campaign will begin spending soon. Cornyn senior adviser Matt Mackowiak noted Paxton’s fundraising shortfall, saying Paxton claimed he needed $20 million to win but has raised barely a quarter of that amount. Mackowiak also criticized Paxton’s record and personal controversies as impediments to winning over donors and primary voters.

Some GOP strategists and outside operatives are weighing the resource question: whether to spend heavily — estimates range from $150–200 million — to defend a seat that many view as safely Republican. NRSC spokesperson Joanna Rodriguez argued Cornyn is the best candidate to protect the GOP Senate majority and that the fight should not be waged in Texas.

Meanwhile, MAGA-aligned groups are preparing to shoulder general-election resources if Paxton becomes the nominee, according to operatives briefed on planning — though one operative called those plans more hopeful than certain.

Reaction at CPAC

At CPAC, attendees largely said primary voters had already made up their minds and that a Trump endorsement might have limited influence at this stage. Some supporters interpreted Trump’s silence as a subtle nudge toward Paxton. Paxton is scheduled to headline CPAC’s Ronald Reagan dinner; Cornyn is not planning to attend, though organizers say the invitation remains open.

Sources quoted in this article spoke on background or declined to comment.