Trump: No regrets endorsing Paxton because ‘Cornyn would have lost’

President Trump said he had no regrets after endorsing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), claiming the incumbent “would have lost.”

The president doubled down on his decision in an appearance on Newsmax’s “Finnerity,” when asked if he had second thoughts.

“No, because I think Cornyn would have lost. I think Cornyn would have lost,” Trump said. “Here’s the way I look at it: Ken Paxton, some people don’t love him, but everybody admits he was the best attorney general in the history of Texas, one of the best in the country.”

“I dealt with all of them. He’s one of the best attorney generals in the country. He was the best in the history of Texas, and that’s the one that’s the thing we really want to see,” he continued. “Not the way he dresses or the way he was. Ken Paxton was a great and is currently a great attorney general.”

Trump added that Paxton was “a little bit unconventional — he’s a little bit this and that but frankly should get a lot of points by being the best.”

Since losing in the state’s primary runoff , Cornyn has spoken out against the Trump administration and has not campaigned with Paxton. He also repeatedly expressed concerns with top prosecutor’s candidacy and its impact on the GOP ticket, given the state attorney general’s numerous scandals .

The president, who has been active in the contentious Senate race, also accused Democrat James Talarico of attempting to ban drilling in the Lone Star State.

“That should be the end of his [Talrico’s] campaign,” the president wrote early Friday on Truth Social .

He has also weighed in on the rumors around Talarico’s recent absence from the campaign trail. The progressive candidate has pushed back on the conspiracy theories, saying he was suffering from the flu.

In another post , Trump called out Cornyn and conservative commentator Karl Rove for not doing enough to support Paxton’s Senate bid.

Texas is usually a “fundamentally red state,” according to Cook Political Report but this race has been designated a “toss-up” by the election handicapper — citing high spending by national Republicans on the race.

Nonpartisan election forecaster Decision Desk HQ , a partner of The Hill, gives Talarico a 56 percent chance of victory as of Friday morning.