Trump is letting his top ally’s Democrat opponent have it.
President Donald Trump unloaded on Democrat Texas Senate candidate James Talarico on Wednesday, comparing the rising Democrat to MAD Magazine mascot Alfred E. Neuman while accusing him of supporting far-left policies that conservatives say are out of touch with Texas voters.
Trump’s comments came just one day after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton scored a massive Republican runoff victory over longtime GOP Sen. John Cornyn, a win fueled in part by Trump’s endorsement late in the race.
In a Truth Social post celebrating Paxton’s victory, Trump congratulated the attorney general for what he called a “tremendous win” before turning his attention toward Talarico, the Democrat now preparing for the general election showdown.
“His opponent, Alfred E. Neuman, may be the worst TEXAS candidate I have ever seen,” Trump wrote.
The president also criticized Talarico’s positions on border security, crime, and cultural issues, arguing that the Democrat represents a progressive agenda that would not align with traditional Texas values.
Trump claimed Talarico was “weak on crime” and accused him of supporting open-border policies, while also mocking some of the Democrat’s public positions and personal branding in comments that immediately sparked reactions across social media.
The sharp attack signals that Republicans are preparing to make Talarico’s ideology a central issue in the campaign as conservatives work to keep Texas firmly in Republican hands.
WATCH:
President Trump just compared Texas Democrat Talarico to the iconic Alfred E. Neuman character from Mad Magazine.
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) May 27, 2026
In his Truth Social post, Trump wrote that this “Weak on Crime, Open Borders Democrat” should never represent the people of Texas, saying his values are the “exact… pic.twitter.com/bSlDtlbboc
Talarico’s campaign quickly pushed back against Trump’s remarks.
Campaign spokesman JT Ennis defended the Democrat as a “law-and-order Democrat” who supports law enforcement funding and stronger border security measures. The campaign also highlighted Talarico’s proposals involving border staffing and infrastructure improvements.
As the political fight intensified, Talarico attempted to dismiss some Republican attacks with humor, joking during a recent interview that he had “been eating barbecue since before Ken Paxton’s first indictment.”
Still, Republicans believe the race presents a major opportunity to energize conservative voters ahead of the midterm elections.
During his victory speech Tuesday night, Paxton accused Talarico of embracing policies that threaten Texas security and public safety. The attorney general warned supporters that Democrats are attempting to move Texas further left on immigration, crime, and social issues.
Conservative organizations are already rallying behind Paxton. The powerful Club for Growth endorsed the attorney general immediately after his victory, while allied groups launched new advertising campaigns targeting Talarico as a progressive Democrat disconnected from mainstream Texas voters.
Despite Republican momentum, Democrats believe Talarico has a real chance to compete statewide. The Democrat reportedly raised roughly $27 million during the first quarter of the year, drawing significant national attention and donor support.
The Texas Senate race is now shaping up to be one of the most expensive and closely watched contests in America.
Meanwhile, Trump’s involvement once again highlights his continued dominance inside the Republican Party. His endorsement helped propel Paxton to victory in the primary and reinforced Trump’s influence over GOP voters nationwide.
With massive fundraising, aggressive campaigning, and national political attention already pouring into Texas, the battle between Ken Paxton and James Talarico is expected to become one of the defining Senate races of the election cycle.
