Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was brutally mocked on Sunday after he made a strange claim during an interview on Fox News.
Paxton joined Fox News host Maria Bartiromo on "Sunday Morning Futures," where the two discussed Paxton's primary battle against Texas state Democratic lawmaker James Talarico to replace outgoing Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) in the Senate. During the interview, Paxton attempted to defend his scandal-ridden past, but onlookers heard a very different explanation from the one he thought he had offered the audience.
"What are you going to do about your own record and perception?" Bartiromo asked. "The Wall Street Journal describes you as 'scandal-plagued.'"
"Well, that was all pushed by Karl Rove," Paxton said, referring to a GOP Stalwart who has spoken out against Paxton's Senate run. "I get why they said that, but the reality is they can say the same thing about Donald Trump."
Paxton's candidacy has been plagued by his divorce from his ex-wife Angela, who claimed she was leaving the Texas Attorney General "on biblical grounds." Paxton also narrowly survived an impeachment proceeding in the Texas legislature over his efforts to provide kick-backs to a real estate developer, and allegations of cheating on his wife.
Political analysts and observers reacted to Paxton's interview on social media.
"My God, the first truthful thing I have heard from Ken Paxton!" Norman Ornstein, a political scientist and contributing editor at The Atlantic, posted on X.
"'I’m not as dirty as the president' is a weird flex," Jim Stewartson, a writer, posted on X.
"Hilarious," Mehdi Hasan, founder of Zeteo News, posted on X.
"Talarico couldn’t have scripted this any better if he tried," Hemant Mehta, a former "Jeopardy!" champion, posted on X.
BARTIROMO: What are you going to do about your perception? The Wall Street Journal describes you as 'scandal plagued'
PAXTON: The reality is they could say the same thing about Donald Trump pic.twitter.com/moW71KlLrx
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 31, 2026