Republican hits back with sharp meme after Trump blindsides him with social media attack

A former Texas House speaker fired back after finding himself on the receiving end of a blistering rebuke Tuesday from President Donald Trump.

Trump applauded Texas State Rep. Dade Phelan's decision to quit politics in a new post on Truth Social.

"Fortunately for the Great State of Texas, their Former Speaker, who is no longer Speaker, Dade Phelan, is quitting Politics," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "He was the one responsible for killing every Bill having to do with Voter Integrity and School Choice. Good luck in your next life, Dade!"

Phelan, a real estate developer, announced in August that he wouldn't seek re-election. At the time, Phelan posted a video of Chuck Norris wishing him "good luck in the next chapter of your life.”

And on Tuesday evening, Phelan hit back with a simple retort.

"New phone. Who dis?" he wrote on X, using a phrase popularized by young people claiming not to recognize the number texting them. The internet slang is used to feign ignorance to avoid unwanted communication.

Phelan has served as a state representative for over a decade and served as Speaker of the House from 2021 to 2025. He was succeeded by one of his closest allies, Dustin Burrows, a Republican from Lubbock, Texas.

But Phelan faced intense scrutiny from within the Texas Republican Party recently. He barely survived a 2024 primary campaign against GOP activist David Covey, whose campaign was supported by a billionaire oilman.

He also oversaw a failed impeachment battle against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton after it was revealed that Paxton had abused the powers of his office to help enrich one of his real estate developer donors.