Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) turned to allegory Friday morning, sharing the ancient fable of the frog and the scorpion on X, just days after President Donald Trump threw his support behind Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the state’s GOP Senate primary. Paxton cruised to victory Tuesday, effectively ending Cornyn’s reelection hopes.
Cornyn, who has repeatedly highlighted his 99.3 percent voting alignment with Trump, posted the story without additional comment. The tale recounts a scorpion that convinces a frog to carry it across a river by arguing it would drown if it stung. Midway, the scorpion stings the frog anyway, dooming both. The scorpion’s explanation: “I am sorry, but I couldn’t help myself. It’s my character.”
The senator’s office declined to elaborate on the post’s meaning, but the timing suggests a pointed critique of Trump’s decision. Senate Republican leaders had lobbied Trump for months to back Cornyn, viewing Paxton as a weaker general election candidate. Party strategists estimated before the primary that defending the seat with Paxton could cost over $200 million against Democratic opponent James Talarico.
A History of Loyalty, Undone
Cornyn’s record of loyalty to Trump is extensive. He served as Senate Republican whip during the first two years of Trump’s first term and played a key role in passing the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, a cornerstone of Trump’s legislative agenda. Cornyn also endorsed Trump in the 2024 GOP primary earlier than ever before.
Yet Trump blasted Cornyn on Truth Social Sunday, calling him “VERY disloyal to me” for allegedly not fighting hard enough for the SAVE America Act. Cornyn had recently reversed his long-held position on the Senate filibuster, writing in a New York Post op-ed that he now supports rule changes to pass the legislation and homeland security funding, breaking a pledge he made during the 2024 Senate GOP leadership race.
The president’s endorsement of Paxton, despite Cornyn’s stronger pro-Trump voting record than 95 of 100 senators during Trump’s first term, underscores a deepening rift. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and other GOP senators had privately urged Trump to back Cornyn, but the president’s decision signals a preference for loyalty over electability.
What the Fable Means
Political analysts see the fable as a thinly veiled accusation of betrayal. “Cornyn is saying Trump stung him despite knowing the consequences,” said a GOP strategist familiar with the campaign. “The scorpion can’t help its nature—and Cornyn is implying Trump’s character is the problem.”
The Washington Post reported that Trump’s criticism of Cornyn’s loyalty stems from the senator’s initial reluctance to support the SAVE America Act, which aims to tighten border security. Cornyn’s op-ed flip-flop came too late to change Trump’s mind.
For related coverage, see Bolton’s critique of Trump’s Iran deal push as election-driven and House Democrats’ vow to block Trump’s $250 bill.
The primary outcome leaves Texas Republicans bracing for a costly general election battle. Paxton, who faces ongoing legal challenges, will need significant financial and grassroots support to hold the seat against Talarico, a rising Democratic star. Cornyn’s future in the Senate remains uncertain, though he has not ruled out a run for another office.
