Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance Deflect on Leaked Audio of Ken Paxton

President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance deflected on Wednesday when asked about leaked audio featuring Texas Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton. In the recording, Paxton reportedly told donors in South Texas that poll numbers dropped following a high-profile Republican midterm convention in Dallas.

According to reporting published by The New York Times on Wednesday, Paxton was asked during a private event with lobbyists and donors whether a figure—whose identity was unclear in the excerpt—was acting as a political drag. Paxton responded that the numbers dropped after the convention, stating, "Everybody's numbers dropped. Right now, yeah, not good."

CBS News has not independently verified the audio recording. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Paxton, Nick Maddux, dismissed the recording as "manipulated nonsense to create a story that doesn't exist." Maddux pointed instead to an internal poll indicating that Paxton leads his Democratic opponent, James Talarico, by three points.

Addressing reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday, President Trump stated that he "hadn't heard that" regarding Paxton's reported remarks. Trump defended the event itself, calling the convention "amazing" and highlighting its viewership. He argued that "other people were helped greatly" by the two-day gathering, which focused heavily on Republican candidates and Trump's own record.

Vice President JD Vance similarly dismissed the comments during an appearance on Fox News on Wednesday. Vance stated that he was not particularly concerned about remarks made in an off-the-record conversation with a donor and emphasized that the administration intends to help Paxton.

The underlying event referenced in the audio is an unprecedented two-night midterm convention in Dallas that Trump headlined in September. The gathering was designed to rally support for GOP candidates navigating a challenging election environment. Trump issued an 11th-hour endorsement of Paxton during a contentious primary cycle that saw Paxton defeat four-term incumbent Senator John Cornyn, a prominent party fundraiser and longtime target of Trump's criticism.

At the September convention, Trump praised Paxton despite noting his unconventional style, calling him "the greatest attorney general in America" and asserting that he deserves to serve as the state's next senator.

The leaked audio has injected new friction into Texas politics. While Texas has not elected a Democrat statewide since 1994, some recent public polls have shown Paxton trailing Talarico. Political analysts note that Trump's low approval ratings, particularly among Hispanic voters, combined with Paxton's polarizing history, have given Democrats renewed optimism this cycle.

Talarico addressed supporters virtually on Wednesday but did not mention the leaked audio. However, the Texas Democratic Party issued a statement characterizing Paxton as loyal only to himself and describing the remarks as embarrassing to the president.

Senator John Cornyn, when asked by CBS News about the audio, reacted with the exclamation "whoops!" Cornyn warned that the political environment is difficult, noted that Paxton has not led in public polling, and stated that he believes he would not have experienced a similar drop in numbers if he had secured the nomination.

As the political fallout continues, President Trump is scheduled to travel to Denton, Texas, for a campaign stop on Thursday, though it remains uncertain whether Paxton will join him. The visit coincides with weather forecasts predicting heavy rain and potential flooding in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.