Trump Warns Ken Paxton Over Claim He Would Disobey Order To Drop Out Of Texas Senate Race: 'Maybe Leads Me To Go The Other Direction'

President Donald Trump issued a warning to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over recent claims about being willing to disobey an eventual order to drop out of the state's GOP primary race for the U.S. Senate.

Speaking to Politico, Trump addressed Paxton's remarks. "That is bad for him. So maybe, maybe that leads me to go the other direction," he said.

Paxton said he would remain in the race even despite Trump's wishes, saying "I owe it to the people of Texas."

"I'm spending a year of my life campaigning against John Cornyn because he doesn't represent the people of Texas well," he said in an interview. "Everything that trump stood for, Cornyn has not. Republicans would like something different," he added.

Different reports have anticipated that Trump would endorse incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, with Republican officials saying he will be a stronger candidate in the general election than Paxton, who has gone through different controversies in his political career.

Trump did not confirm to Politico whether he would support Cornyn, but noted he would announce his decision "pretty soon."

The two candidates have been trading barbs throughout the primary, with Cornyn saying on Tuesday that he refuses to "allow a flawed, self-centered and shameless candidate like Ken Paxton to risk everything we've worked so hard to build over these many years." "There is simply too much at stake in this midterm election for our state and for our country."

His campaign has also taken personal shots at his opponent. "Crooked Ken Paxton cheated on his wife. She is divorcing him on biblical ground so now Paxton is wrecking another home, sleeping around with a married woman mother of seven," a recent ad said.

It went on to note that "the Texas attorney general has "increased his net worth by 7,000%" since taking office and has given "millions of tax dollars to left-wing organizations, including the Montrose Center that host drag queen shows performed gender affirming services to kids as young as seven."

"Now think of the Paxton dirty deeds we don't know about yet. The wife cheater and fraud or the Texas work horse?" the ad says, claiming that the choice for voters is clear.

Whoever wins will face Democratic nominee James Talarico, who beat Rep. Jasmine Crockett.