Trump interrupted by protesters at Texas Paxton rally — SkimNews
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- Donald Trump rallied Texas voters behind embattled Senate candidate Ken Paxton at San Antonio's Freeman Coliseum on October 7, 2026, his third Texas trip in under a month as Republicans pour resources into defending the state's GOP Senate seat.
- At least a dozen protesters interrupted Trump's remarks, including one who reached near the stage; Trump mocked them by saying "He's going back home to mom" and "his mom voted for Trump."
- Trump walked back comments that appeared to suggest bombing an American city would be "a small price to pay" for the Iran war, instead saying Iran "might try to hit an American city with a missile" and warning "Let them hit San Diego, let them in Los Angeles."
- Republican Gov. Greg Abbott skipped the rally to headline a hospital dedication 330 miles away, prompting Texas Democratic Party spokesperson Jacob Long to accuse him of ducking Trump over "record-high prices driven by Trump's tariffs and war with Iran."
- Trump devoted most of his speech to attacking Democratic challenger James Talarico, repeatedly calling him "Tala-freako," and made no mention of a recently leaked recording in which Paxton lamented the Iran war and rising fuel prices.
- The Texas Senate race has shifted into competitive territory — Texas hasn't elected a Democrat since 1988 — driven by Talarico's fundraising, Trump's low approval ratings, and concerns about Paxton's character.
- Republicans have committed more than $300 million to Texas elections this midterm season, reflecting how Trump's poor standing, the Iran war, and soaring gas prices have threatened GOP candidates nationwide.
Why it matters: Trump's third Texas visit in under a month and the GOP's $300 million spending blitz underscore how the Senate majority now hinges on a state Republicans have carried for decades. Abbott's no-show and Trump's decision to skip Paxton's leaked war grievances reveal a campaign uncomfortable with its own candidate's message, while the dozen-plus protester interruptions signal a base fractured by the Iran war and gas prices.
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