President Donald Trump pushed back Thursday after Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy questioned him about reported private criticism from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton following the Republican Party’s midterm convention.
The exchange quickly drew attention because Trump was preparing to campaign for Paxton when Doocy raised questions about whether the Texas Republican believed the convention had actually hurt his standing with voters.
Doocy asked Trump why he was traveling to support Paxton after reports surfaced that the attorney general had privately blamed the convention for declining poll numbers.
Trump strongly defended both the event and his decision to campaign.
“We have to win this election,” Trump said.
He then described the Republican convention as a major success and pointed to its reported television and online audience.
Trump Defends Republican Convention
Trump argued that the convention attracted enormous attention despite competing against NFL programming.
According to the president, the NFL drew roughly 24 million viewers while the Republican event received approximately 107 million views across platforms.
“In other words, we beat the NFL by four times,” Trump said.
Trump acknowledged that Paxton may have had his own concerns about the convention’s political effect, but he emphasized that the event served a broader purpose for Republican candidates and voters.
The president then shifted his attention to Paxton’s campaign.
Trump Stands Behind Ken Paxton
Trump said he remains confident in Paxton and pointed to his previous endorsement as evidence of their political relationship.
According to Trump, Paxton had faced a difficult Republican contest before receiving his backing.
Trump said Paxton ultimately defeated Gentner Drummond, whom the president described as a formidable opponent.
“He should win,” Trump said.
Trump’s comments appeared aimed at making clear that whatever Paxton may have said privately about the convention, the president was still publicly supporting his campaign.
That distinction could become important as Republicans work to maintain party unity heading into Election Day.
Why Trump Is Campaigning in Republican States
Trump also addressed another question surrounding his campaign strategy: Why spend valuable time visiting states that have traditionally supported Republicans?
The president said the answer is partly about loyalty.
Trump highlighted his strong electoral performances in Texas and Oklahoma and said he believes politicians should continue visiting states whose voters have consistently supported them.
He pointed specifically to Oklahoma, where he said he carried all 77 counties in each of his presidential campaigns.
Trump compared that showing with former President Ronald Reagan’s performance and used the numbers to illustrate the strength of his support in the state.
He said Republican voters in deeply conservative states should not be taken for granted.
“You have to thank the states that are with you 1,000 percent,” Trump said.
Trump Focuses on Voter Turnout
Trump also emphasized that even Republican-leaning states require active campaigning.
He said his visit to Oklahoma was partly intended to support the governor’s race and make sure conservative voters actually show up at the polls.
That message reflects a broader challenge facing both political parties during midterm elections.
Candidates can hold advantages in polling or party registration, but those advantages matter only if supporters participate on Election Day.
Trump indicated that he does not want Republicans becoming complacent simply because a race appears favorable.
Leaked Paxton Audio Fuels Questions
The controversy began after The New York Times obtained audio in which Paxton reportedly discussed the Republican convention’s impact on polling.
“When we did that convention — it dropped our numbers,” Paxton said in the recording. “Everybody’s numbers dropped. Right now, yeah, not good.”
The comments immediately raised questions about whether Paxton believed Trump’s convention had created political problems for Republican candidates.
They also provided the backdrop for Doocy’s question Thursday.
However, Paxton’s remarks focused specifically on polling following the convention rather than representing an outright break with Trump.
Trump, meanwhile, showed no indication that the remarks had changed his decision to support Paxton.
Fox News Question Puts Trump-Paxton Relationship in Spotlight
Doocy’s question brought what had largely been a behind-the-scenes discussion directly into public view.
For Republican voters, the larger question is whether Paxton’s reported concerns amount to a significant disagreement or simply reflect the type of private campaign analysis that routinely takes place during competitive elections.
Trump’s response suggested he is not interested in allowing the issue to disrupt the campaign.
Rather than attacking Paxton, the president defended the convention, praised his own electoral history in Texas and Oklahoma, and returned his attention to winning races and increasing Republican turnout.
Midterm Stakes Continue To Rise
The exchange comes as Republicans intensify their campaigning ahead of the midterm elections.
Trump remains one of the party’s most influential figures, and his endorsements and campaign appearances continue to attract national attention.
For candidates such as Paxton, appearing alongside Trump can energize Republican voters while also bringing additional media scrutiny.
That scrutiny is likely to increase as Election Day approaches.
Poll numbers, candidate disagreements and campaign strategy will all receive closer attention as Republicans and Democrats compete for control of key offices across the country.
For now, Trump and Paxton remain publicly aligned.
Despite questions about Paxton’s reported private comments, Trump is continuing to campaign on his behalf and urging Republican voters to turn out.
Whether the controversy surrounding the convention has any lasting effect will ultimately depend on how voters respond at the ballot box.