Steve Bannon criticizes Trump's campaign aides for backing John Cornyn over Ken Paxton
Trump remains officially neutral in the Texas Senate primary race
The conflict highlights a growing rift within Republican ranks over the MAGA movement's future
The Texas Senate primary is being framed as a battle for the soul of the Republican Party
📖 Full Retelling
Steve Bannon, the influential MAGA strategist, has publicly criticized two of Donald Trump's top campaign aides for backing incumbent Senator John Cornyn over Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the state's closely watched Republican Senate primary, creating a significant rift within Republican ranks during Trump's upcoming visit to Texas at the Port of Corpus Christi on Friday, as Trump himself remains officially neutral in the three-way race between Cornyn, Paxton, and Representative Wesley Hunt. The intraparty conflict stems from the involvement of Tony Fabrizio, Trump's chief pollster, and Chris LaCivita, a senior Trump campaign adviser, who are working with Cornyn's reelection efforts. Bannon, broadcasting his 'War Room' show from a rented ranch in North Texas, expressed his disapproval, stating that 'the Trump team should have stayed out of this race, absolutely.' This intervention has created tension within pro-Trump circles, particularly as Paxton is positioning himself as the true MAGA candidate in the primary contest. The Texas Senate primary is increasingly being framed as a battle for the soul of the MAGA movement, with Bannon characterizing the expected runoff between Paxton and Cornyn as nothing less than a defining moment for the grassroots movement. 'The Paxton situation is critical, because he has been the MAGA guy since Day One,' Bannon told Playbook, adding that Paxton 'is a symbol of the heart of the grassroots MAGA movement.' Meanwhile, a White House official noted that 'the president is neutral until he's not,' while acknowledging that 'John Cornyn votes with the President.' This conflict signals what could be an increasing number of similar battles for the future direction of the Republican Party as different factions vie for influence and ideological purity.
🏷️ Themes
Republican Party Division, MAGA Movement, Political Strategy
John Cornyn III ( KOR-nin; born February 2, 1952) is an American politician serving as the senior United States senator for Texas, a seat he has held since 2002. A member of the Republican Party, Cornyn chaired the National Republican Senatorial Committee from 2009 to 2013.
Born in Houston, Cornyn i...
There have been four presidential campaigns waged by U.S. president Donald Trump. He ran for president once for the Reform Party (2000), and three times as a Republican (2016, 2020, 2024). He additionally mused about running on several other occasions such as for the 1988 and 2012 elections.
Warren Kenneth Paxton Jr. (born December 23, 1962) is an American politician and lawyer who has served as the attorney general of Texas since 2015. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served in the Texas Senate representing the eighth district and as a member of the Texas House of Repres...
Bannon is an Irish surname. The following are people bearing that surname:
Ann Bannon (born 1932), American author of lesbian pulp fiction novels
Bernard Bannon (1874−1938), English cricketer
Bonnie Bannon (1913–1989), American actress, model, dancer
Brian Bannon (1930–2017), Australian politician ...
Bannon blasts Trump campaign aides in Texas Senate showdown Steve Bannon has gone all-in for Ken Paxton in Texas. But two of Trump's top campaign hands are backing John Cornyn — opening up a rift on the right. Steve Bannon speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, on Feb. 24, 2024. | Francis Chung/POLITICO By Adam Wren 02/27/2026 06:10 AM EST DALLAS — When President Donald Trump pops up in Texas for an event at the Port of Corpus Christi on Friday, he’s not expected to put his finger on the scale in the closely watched Republican Senate primary between incumbent John Cornyn, state Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt — all of whom will be in attendance. But Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign team’s involvement with Cornyn’s reelect is opening a fresh wound for some pro-Paxton MAGA types. Tony Fabrizio, Trump’s top pollster, is working for Cornyn’s campaign, and Chris LaCivita, one of Trump’s top campaign hands, works as a senior adviser for the pro-Cornyn super PAC Texans for a Conservative Majority. Steve Bannon, the longtime MAGA torchbearer, has taken issue with Fabrizio and LaCivita’s involvement. “My belief is the Trump team should have stayed out of this race, absolutely,” Bannon told POLITICO from a rented ranch in North Texas, where he’s been broadcasting his “War Room” show. Asked about Bannon’s criticism of their involvement with Cornyn’s reelection efforts, Fabrizio did not respond — but LaCivita texted POLITICO a fiery reply: “Associating with Senator Cornyn is better than being a lacky for Epstein,” he said, an apparent reference to Bannon’s newly surfaced ties to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Justice Department’s release of documents in January revealed extensive exchanges that Epstein had with Bannon as he mounted a political influence campaign across Europe. Bannon has said little publicly about his relationship with Epstein, but he did previously call for an independent in...
