‘November is going to be a disaster’: John Cornyn warns Trump’s actions are pushing Republicans toward a costly midterm setback

Texas – Just weeks after suffering a major political defeat in Texas, Sen. John Cornyn is openly warning that President Donald Trump may be leading Republicans toward serious trouble in the 2026 midterm elections. In unusually direct comments, the longtime Texas senator argued that Trump’s political decisions, particularly his willingness to turn against Republican allies, could ultimately damage both the party and the president himself.

Cornyn’s remarks came during an interview, where he reflected on his recent primary loss to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Trump played a major role in that outcome by endorsing Paxton, helping him defeat the four-term senator and bringing an end to Cornyn’s long Senate career.

Despite Trump’s support for the man who defeated him, the president later attempted to strike a friendly tone. “Congratulations to Ken Paxton on such a tremendous win, and to John Cornyn for having run a strong and powerful race but, more importantly, having had a truly great career. John will remain my friend for a long time to come, as we both watch Ken become a fantastic, common sense Senator, one who is respected by all,” Trump wrote on Truth Social after Paxton’s victory.

Cornyn appeared less convinced by the gesture. “If that’s the way friends treat you, you wonder about his enemies,” he said when discussing Trump’s comments.

Cornyn predicts a difficult road ahead

While Cornyn made clear he is not interested in revenge, he expressed growing concern about where the Republican Party is heading under Trump’s leadership.

The Texas Republican said he expects a challenging political environment leading up to the elections and suggested that lawmakers who have been targeted by Trump may now have more independence. “I think it is going to be a pretty bumpy ride for the next seven months,” said Cornyn, who observed that Trump’s targeting of lawmakers like himself, Senator Thom Tillis, and Senator Bill Cassidy gives “Some of us a little more freedom, and certainly leverage.”

He also referenced a memorable exchange involving Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. “As the president told President [Volodymyr] Zelensky when he was in his office a year or so ago — he said, ‘You don’t have any cards.’ Well, we’ve got some cards to play,” he added.

Those comments reflected a broader message that emerged throughout the interview. Cornyn suggested that some Republicans are becoming increasingly concerned that Trump is making decisions based on personal loyalty rather than political strategy.

According to the Times report, Cornyn believes the president’s actions could create a midterm “disaster” that would eventually result in “the most miserable two years of his life” during the final stretch of his presidency.

Loyalty tests and growing frustration

One of the strongest themes in Cornyn’s criticism involved Trump’s expectations of loyalty.

The Texas senator pointed to his own record as evidence that he has consistently supported the president’s agenda. Cornyn noted that his voting record aligned with Trump roughly “99.3 percent” of the time.

Unlike some Republican senators who broke with Trump after the January 6 Capitol attack, Cornyn did not vote to remove him from office.

Yet Cornyn said that loyalty was ultimately not enough. “If he would do that to me, he would do that to anybody,” Mr. Cornyn said. “There’s never going to be good enough for him, other than 100 percent, you know, slavish adherence to whatever he wants. But obviously that’s not what the senator’s role is supposed to be, especially in terms of checks and balances.”

The senator also indicated that he intends to make independent decisions moving forward rather than automatically following Trump’s lead.

At one point, he said he would decide “where I’m going to — or going to not — defer” to the president.

One issue where Cornyn has already broken with Trump involves a Justice Department settlement that granted special protection from IRS scrutiny to Trump, his family, and his businesses following litigation over leaked tax information. “I think that’s a terrible mistake,” Mr. Cornyn said. “The president needs to be treated like everybody else.”

The Texas race remains at the center

Although Cornyn lost his own race, he believes the consequences extend beyond his personal defeat.

The senator argued that Trump’s endorsement of Paxton could make the Texas Senate contest more difficult and more expensive for Republicans than it otherwise would have been. While Cornyn said he will support the Republican ticket, he also made clear that he has no intention of campaigning or raising money for Paxton.

That decision could prove significant. Throughout his Senate career, Cornyn developed a reputation as one of the GOP’s most effective fundraisers.

He warned that Republicans may be underestimating the political costs of some of Trump’s decisions. “It’s going to make things harder, certainly more expensive in Texas, and make it harder around the country,” Mr. Cornyn said.

He stressed that his prediction was not motivated by bitterness or a desire to settle scores. “I don’t say that with any sort of desire for vengeance; I just think that’s the way it’s going to be. He’s going to have the most miserable two years of his life in the last two years of his term, I think, because I think November is going to be a disaster.”

As Republicans prepare for a crucial election cycle, Cornyn’s comments reveal a growing divide within parts of the party. While Trump remains the dominant force in Republican politics, some longtime allies are increasingly questioning whether his approach is helping the GOP secure victories—or creating new political problems that could surface when voters head to the polls.