President Donald Trump has so transformed the Republican Party that it is beyond saving, at least according to one prominent conservative.
Writing for The Dispatch, conservative commentator Kevin D. Williamson compared Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) to one of the state’s political heroes, Sam Houston. Like Cornyn, Houston was punished by Texas voters for an unpopular position: In Houston’s case, opposing the extension of slavery, and in Cornyn’s case the simple fact that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is perceived as more popular with the party base.
“Donald Trump routinely denounces his critics as ‘disloyal to the Republican Party’ (his verbatim description of Rep. Thomas Massie, the Kentucky libertarian who has sometimes chided Trump over his weakness for profligate spending), but Trump is, in all things, first and foremost a liar, and he does not give a fig about party loyalty,” Williamson wrote. “Trump cares about loyalty to Trump, and the more cynical reader here might reasonably substitute ‘subservience’ or ‘servility’ or ‘slavish boot-licking’ for ‘loyalty.’”
He added, “Far from being a party man, Trump has made a point of defeating Republicans who are inconvenient to him, whether they be obscure Indiana state legislators who declined to follow Texas’ gerrymandering example or state-level election officials who declined to participate in his 2020-2021 attempt at a coup d’état.”
Given Texans’ preference for Paxton over Cornyn, Williamson argued that it shows the Republican Party is beyond hope when it comes to overcoming its fealty to Trump.
“Imagine a rich, middle-aged car salesman who ditches his wife and starts dating a 21-year-old stripper with a meth problem, and then imagine that guy is a state—that’s Texas, Anno Domini 2026,” Williamson wrote. “With a slowing economy, rising prices, and the slow but steady creep of problems very similar to those facing other states—housing, infrastructure, etc.—Texas has some real issues facing it. It also has some imaginary issues facing it, such as the supposed takeover of … the Dallas suburbs … by Islamist radicals. Texas Republicans, having not very much useful to say about the real issues, currently are focused on the imaginary ones.”
Because this is so effective, Williamson chided conservatives who believe the Republican Party can be salvaged.
“Conservatives have been working to save the Republican Party—in Texas and elsewhere—from itself,” Williamson argued. “Perhaps it is time to give up that project. Like the car salesman with the meth-head paramour, the heart wants what it wants.”
He then concluded, “And if Selena Gomez isn’t your kind of sage, there’s always Livy: Eventus stultorum magister est [experience is the teacher of fools].”
Williamson is not alone among conservatives in expressing concern that Trump endorsed Paxton instead of Cornyn. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) argued that it “puts that seat in jeopardy” and asked, “how does that help strengthen the president’s hand when we lose a state like Texas?”
She characterized her reaction as “Supremely disappointed.” The same sentiment was expressed by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) who described Paxton as “an ethically challenged individual,” likely referring to the accusations of bribery, abuse of power and multiple extramarital affairs made against him.
“John Cornyn is an outstanding senator and deserved, in my judgment, the president’s support,” Collins added. “Obviously, it’s the president’s call, but I’m disappointed that he did it.”
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) said he was “speechless” and otherwise would offer no comment. Meanwhile Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), a close ally to the president, tried to put a positive spin on the situation and said, “I think Paxton can win. I think it’d be three times more expensive.”
