President Donald Trump faced at least a dozen interruptions from protesters during a campaign rally in San Antonio on Wednesday, using the visit to back embattled Senate candidate Ken Paxton as outside spending on the race surpassed $300 million.
Protesters Interrupt San Antonio Rally as Trump Stumps for Ken Paxton
President Donald Trump traveled to Texas on Wednesday for his third trip to the state in less than a month, addressing a packed crowd at San Antonio’s Freeman Coliseum to rally support for state Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Inside the arena, at least half a dozen demonstrators interrupted the president during the early portion of his remarks, with later accounts putting the total number of people escorted out by police at at least a dozen. Trump briefly stepped away from the microphone after one protester appeared to approach the stage. He’s going back home to mom,
Trump said of one individual led away by law enforcement. But what he doesn’t know is his mom voted for Trump.
Outside the venue, the San Antonio Police Department and Bexar County Sheriff’s Office provided significant security and traffic operations. Authorities had warned ahead of the rally that people could exercise their First Amendment rights in public areas as long as they stayed off roadways and did not breach the peace.
Republicans Spend Millions in Competitive Texas Senate Race
The high-stakes visit comes as Republicans pour resources into Texas to defend a Senate seat in a state Trump carried in 2024 by nearly 14 percentage points. Recent polling has placed Paxton in an unexpectedly competitive race against Democrat James Talarico. A New York Times/Siena College poll released ahead of the event showed Talarico leading Paxton 51% to 45% among likely voters. While the Cook Political Report lists the race as a “Toss Up,” other analysts categorize the contest as “Lean R.”
Republicans and affiliated political action committees have devoted more than $300 million to elections in Texas. Trump, who has urged supporters to “pretend” he is on the ballot this fall, emphasized the national stakes of the Texas race.
“He was tough and he was with us all the way. He’s a fantastic man.”
Donald Trump, U.S. President
Trump described Paxton during the rally as perhaps the greatest attorney general in the United States of America
. The endorsement follows weeks of friction between the two Republicans. Leaked audio of Paxton complained that the war in Iran and high gas prices are hurting his campaign. Trump publicly brushed off the tension, having previously referred to Paxton as a pain in the ass sometimes
while continuing to campaign heavily on his behalf.
Governor Abbott Skips Rally as Affordability Pressures Grow
Noticeable among the absentees in San Antonio was Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who did not attend the evening rally.
Democrats quickly seized on the governor’s absence. But now, as Texas families get crushed by record-high prices driven by Trump’s tariffs and war with Iran, suddenly Greg Abbott has somewhere else to be.
Affordability and national security issues dominated local discourse. San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones had requested a meeting with Trump to address an affordability crisis, noting that San Antonio’s status as the third-most-impoverished big city in the country makes federal policies driving high gas prices and grocery bills disproportionately impactful. Military families in the region are also tracking the war in Iran, which local officials say is straining operational readiness while driving local gas prices to nearly $3.70.
You want to see problems? Let them hit San Diego, let them hit Los Angeles and you want to see some bad things happen,
Trump told the arena, adding, We’re not going to let that happen. We protect our cities, we protect our country.
Trump Promotes Congressional Candidates to Hold House Majorities
The rally also featured congressional candidate Carlos De La Cruz, an Air Force veteran running in the 35th District. Trump highlighted De La Cruz as part of the party’s effort to hold onto its majorities in the U.S. House. The event also showcased Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and other down-ballot hopefuls, as the GOP attempts to boost base turnout.
Trump also mentioned Tano Tijerina, a Republican candidate, noting that while he had previously pardoned Henry Cuellar from charges of bribery, money laundering, and conspiracy at the behest of Cuellar’s daughters, he fully supports Tijerina in the current race.
