WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump offered a mix of praise and criticism for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Wednesday, publicly endorsing his political record while openly lampooning his personal style.
Speaking to journalists in Washington during a meeting with Republican congressional candidates, Trump addressed Paxton’s appearance directly.
“Ken Paxton, you might not like the way he dresses. And I say this, it’s so insulting to him, but I might as well say it,” Trump said. “You might not… like the way he looks. You might not love his look. You might not love his television interviews. But he was the best attorney general in the country. He was one of the best in the entire country. And that speaks a lot louder than the suit he’s wearing that doesn’t look so great.”
Paxton did not attend the Washington event. His campaign did not respond to requests for comment regarding the President’s remarks.
The comments follow public criticism of Paxton’s attire during a recent meeting with campaign volunteers, where social media users criticized his informal dress choices.
Paxton is the Republican nominee for Texas’ open U.S. Senate seat, competing against Democratic candidate James Talarico.
Trump maintains his endorsement of Paxton and is scheduled to attend the Texas GOP convention on Sept. 9 and 10.