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7 min read
● InformationalElections / Campaigns

Trump makes third trip to Texas in less than a month despite Ken Paxton audio leaks

Paxton's newly reported private comments and Trump's rally appearance put his campaign and the value of their alliance under scrutiny.

SOURCE CHECK

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Outlet credibilityNews Channel 3-1279/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 9, 2026

Credibility rates News Channel 3-12, where this article appeared. The other scores rate the article itself.

Cites CNN

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CNN84/100 HIGH

100 stories · 84–85 · updated Oct 10, 2026

This is CNN's own score. The Source Check scores are for News Channel 3-12 and this article.

News Channel 3-12cites CNN
Oct 7, 2026
tl;dr

Donald Trump traveled to Texas for a rally supporting Senate candidate Ken Paxton, whose privately recorded comments about the Iran war, gas prices and a Trump event had recently surfaced. The story examines whether Trump's support can help Paxton amid a close race and concerns among Republicans about the campaign's cost and wider Senate stakes.

Community verdict

VOTING CLOSED
How does this story look for
Ken Paxton R · TX
NOT RATEDCLOSED

No good or bad look here

This story reports what happened without casting Paxton in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Paxton’s record.

● INFORMATIONAL

People in this story

SWIPE →
Ken Paxton
R · TX

Texas attorney general and Republican Senate candidate whose campaign and relationship with Trump are central to the story

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President who campaigned in Texas for Paxton

Trump's version of this story ↗

Democratic Senate candidate running against Paxton

Ted Cruz
R · TX · SEN

Texas senator who previously ran for reelection against Beto O'Rourke

Beto O'Rourke
Former U.S. Representative (D-TX)

Democrat who previously ran against Ted Cruz for Senate

John Cornyn
R · TX · SEN

Texas senator and incumbent whom Trump opposed in the Republican primary runoff

ALSO MENTIONED  Greg Abbott, Texas governor

Part of a bigger story

12 OUTLETS
Trump Backs Ken Paxton's Texas Senate Bid

Outlets report that Donald Trump has endorsed and campaigned for Ken Paxton's Texas Senate bid, while leaked recordings and Trump's public remarks about Paxton have drawn attention to the campaign. Left-leaning outlets present Trump's insults and interventions as worsening Paxton's campaign difficulties. Center outlets focus on leaked remarks, Republican concern and electoral vulnerability while noting Trump's continued endorsement. Right-leaning outlets emphasize Trump's support for Paxton, with some casting negative coverage as an effort to undermine him.

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