Texas Heavyweights Clash in Primary, Stand Shoulder-to-Shoulder Behind Trump’s Strike on Iran
WACO, Texas — They may be battling it out in one of the fiercest Republican primaries in the country, but Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn are united where it counts: unwavering support for President Donald Trump’s decisive action against Iran.
As the Lone Star State’s high-stakes Senate race barrels toward the March 3 primary, both Republicans are emphasizing their loyalty to President Trump and their long records backing his America First agenda. The field includes Rep. Wesley Hunt, but the spotlight is firmly on Paxton and Cornyn as they compete for conservative voters — and for President Trump’s coveted endorsement.
On one issue, however, there is no daylight between them. Both men say President Trump made the correct call in authorizing Operation Epic Fury, the targeted strike aimed at halting Iran’s dangerous ambitions.
Paxton: “You’ve Got to Deal With It”
Speaking outside his final campaign event before voters head to the polls, Paxton made clear he believes the president acted out of strength and necessity.
“No one wants foreign wars,” Paxton said, reflecting the sentiment of many Texas voters. “But when you’re dealing with a regime that has spent decades sponsoring terrorism and pursuing nuclear weapons, you cannot afford to ignore it. If you don’t confront that threat over there, it eventually comes here.”
Paxton stressed that confronting a hostile regime bent on obtaining nuclear capabilities is not reckless — it’s responsible leadership. For many conservatives, the question is simple: protect American lives now or pay a far steeper price later.
Cornyn: A Front-Row Seat to History
Sen. Cornyn had a unique vantage point when the president made his decision. According to military leaders, President Trump authorized the strike while traveling to Corpus Christi to promote his energy agenda — reinforcing his commitment to American energy independence even amid rising global threats.
Cornyn and other Texas lawmakers were aboard Air Force One at the time. The senator described the president as calm and deliberate as he weighed the gravity of the moment.
“He asked us if we supported action against Iran,” Cornyn recalled. “Those of us present understood the seriousness of the decision. We raised our hands in support, knowing that ultimately the responsibility rests with the commander in chief.”
Cornyn framed the issue in stark, unmistakable terms.
“The choice is clear,” he said. “Are you on the side of American peace and security, or are you willing to tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran? That’s the difference.”
Debate in Washington, Resolve in Texas
Back in Washington, some lawmakers from both parties are pushing to scale back presidential war powers. Both Paxton and Cornyn have signaled they are open to debate — but neither is wavering in support of Trump’s authority as commander in chief.
President Trump has stated that operations will continue until U.S. objectives are met, though he has suggested the timeline could be measured in weeks, not years.
Critics on the left have compared the strike to past prolonged conflicts in the Middle East. Paxton forcefully rejected that narrative, drawing a sharp distinction between Trump’s targeted action and the drawn-out nation-building efforts of previous administrations.
“This isn’t about invading countries or rebuilding foreign governments,” Paxton said. “It’s about neutralizing a direct threat and making it clear that America will defend itself.”
He added that the president’s message to the Iranian people is equally clear: their future lies in their own hands.
- No appetite for endless wars
- No tolerance for nuclear blackmail
- No apologies for defending American lives
As Texas Republicans head to the polls, Paxton and Cornyn continue to spar over who is best suited to represent the state in the U.S. Senate. But when it comes to confronting hostile regimes and standing with President Trump, both men are firmly in the same camp.
For many Lone Star conservatives, that unity sends a powerful message: America will not back down, and under strong leadership, our enemies will think twice before testing the red, white, and blue.
