President Donald Trump started his first 100 days in office with his staff heralding a new, more professionalized Trump White House. He’s entering the next pivotal 100 days with the veil slipping just a bit on a president who can’t resist some old-fashioned drama.
People close to the president saw that in Mar-a-Lago earlier this month, when he hosted outgoing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for dinner. Paxton is challenging Sen. John Cornyn in next year’s Senate race, and Trump is now openly contemplating bucking the longtime incumbent, effectively ousting him in favor of a firebrand more closely aligned with the MAGA movement.
“It’s his best weapon for keeping control over the people in Congress,” said a former Trump official who attended the dinner that evening. An additional source confirmed Paxton’s attendance.