'Good luck in your next life!' Trump cheers as top Texas Republican quits politics

President Donald Trump on Tuesday applauded a top Texas Republican'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. "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 won't seek re-election to the Texas House of Representatives. At the time, Phelan posted a video of Chuck Norris wishing him "good luck in the next chapter of your life.”

Phelan has served as a state representative for more than a decade. He was first elected to the Texas House in 2014 and served as Speaker of the House between 2021 and 2025. He was succeeded by one of his closest allies, Dustin Burrows, a Republican from Lubbock, Texas.

Phelan has also come under 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.