Paxton audio; force changes ABC's White House report

Sep 30

Mary Bruce reports audio obtained by The New York Times in which Republican Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton says the Dallas midterm convention hurt campaign numbers; ABC characterizes this as criticism of Trump's effect on Republican campaigns. The package describes polls giving James Talarico a slight edge without identifying a specific survey, includes Talarico's earlier criticism near the convention and Trump's same-day praise of it, and airs outgoing Senator John Cornyn's warning about making elections revolve around a president with weakened favorability. Muir says Trump is scheduled to campaign with Paxton the following day. In the complete defense follow-up, Bruce says Pete Hegseth announced that day a twenty-percent reduction in generals and admirals at the Pentagon and reports that U.S. forces have formally withdrawn from Iraq after more than two decades. These are distinct updates in the same correspondent unit; the planned Texas visit is not reported as completed.

ABC reports newly disclosed audio in which Texas Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton says the Dallas midterm convention lowered campaign numbers; ABC interprets the recording as blaming Trump's convention for Republican campaign difficulties. Asked that day, Trump says the convention was amazing. The report places the disclosure in the competitive Paxton–Talarico contest and airs John Cornyn's warning about centering campaigns on Trump amid weaker favorability. Muir reports a Texas campaign appearance with Paxton scheduled for the following day, not completed. The unnamed polling references establish no new identified survey. ABC's October 1 report revisits the same Paxton recording and airs Trump's subsequent Texas praise of Paxton alongside his complaint that Paxton can be difficult. It supplies campaign and unnamed-poll context. This is a compatible follow-up to the September 30 disclosure; the October 1 tour launch is indexed separately and neither polling reference identifies a new survey release. The complete October 1 White House departure gaggle supplies the original question about Paxton's private criticism and why Trump would visit Texas. Trump insists the convention succeeded, claims 107 million views against 24 million for the NFL, and cites his prior Texas electoral support. These are his responses and claimed ratings, not a new audio disclosure or independently verified audience measurements.