U.S. President Donald Trump with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) is suddenly rushing off back to Washington, seemingly to save President Donald Trump’s agenda mere hours after Trump endorsed his Republican primary opponent.
“I am cancelling my campaign events for tomorrow and heading back to D.C. tonight. As a member of Budget [Committee] GOP and on behalf of the nearly 32 million Texans that I am honored to represent, I will vote tomorrow AM to end the absurd and irresponsible Democratic defunding of ICE and [US Customs and Border Protection] and fund their important work first in committee and then on the Senate floor,” Cornyn announced on X.
Cornyn made the announcement that he was flying off back to Washington to save Trump and Republicans despite Trump backing Texas Attorney general Ken Paxton — who’s faced several criminal investigations and is hated by many Texans — over incumbent Cornyn in the GOP runoff.
Critics on social media, including PunchBowl News reporter Andrew Desiderio, noted that Cornyn needs to return to D.C. for the Budget Committee markup because Republicans have a one-seat majority on Budget, and could deadlock the committee.
But other critics cringed at Cornyn’s overt capitulation, hours after Trump may have signed his political death warrant.
MS NOW political pundit Kurt Bardells said on X: “Bro, You’re canceling your campaign events because your campaign is over.”
“Trump endorsed Paxton, your political career is over,” repeated another.
Meanwhile, other MAGA voters mercilessly dunked on Cornyn, despite the senator likely preserving Trump’s financial agenda.
“Not only are you a coward, you’re also a quitter… Looks like the president made the right decision,” said one heckler on X.
“Nothing says ‘successful campaign going well’ like canceling your campaign events the week of early voting,” quipped another.