The recordings, which mark the third such leak from a single meeting last month, have surfaced over a week of headlines. While Paxton claimed in the audio that he has no control over the war or the decisions driving it, political analysts have drawn different conclusions. Democratic strategist David Axelrod suggested that the endorsement of Paxton could become Trump's worst political decision, while Chris Cillizza noted the leaks might be timed to justify cutting financial support for the candidate.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Story
Trump Defends Ken Paxton Endorsement After Iran War Leaks
US Politics13 days ago
The U.S. President has refused to distance himself from the Texas GOP’s Senate nominee despite recordings of the candidate blaming federal policies for poor campaign numbers. Donald Trump stated he has "no regrets at all" about endorsing Ken Paxton after audio obtained by Axios revealed Paxton telling donors and lobbyists that the Iran war and fuel costs are the "biggest drag" on his run for the U.S. Senate. Paxton specifically cited diesel prices exceeding $6 per gallon as a primary cause of inflation in food and other costs.
Looking for more context or analysis?
Tilt chat provides reliable, tailored insights, alerts, and automations.