Just hours after Democrats won two major special elections in Texas, including one that flipped a historically Republican district by 31 points, President Donald Trump launched an intense social media blitz.
On Sunday, following Democrat Taylor Rehmet’s decisive victory in a Fort Worth state Senate race, Trump posted seven messages in just three minutes. The posts included screenshots of supporters praising his "tremendous leadership" and applauding him for "saving America’s cultural center" and "speaking it like it is." Some of these supporters have controversial backgrounds, including at least one convicted criminal.
Trump also highlighted favorable editorials from The Free Press founded by CBS editor-in-chief Bari Weiss and the Des Moines Register.
Rehmet’s win was a major blow to Republicans, overturning a district that had backed Trump by 31 points in 2024. Rehmet defeated Republican Leigh Wambsganss by more than 14 points, despite Trump actively campaigning for Wambsganss on social media. This followed Democrat Christian Menefee’s victory in Harris County the previous day, further narrowing the Republican House majority. These consecutive wins signal a growing momentum for Democrats leading into November’s midterms.
Among Trump’s posts was a screenshot of a December message from Texas Democrat Henry Cuellar praising his “tremendous leadership.” This post came after Trump pardoned Cuellar and his wife, who had faced bribery, conspiracy, and money laundering charges. Trump also shared a 1989 letter from George Steinbrenner, former New York Yankees owner, encouraging him to “run for President some day and get the whole damn thing straightened out.” Steinbrenner had a controversial past, including a 1974 guilty plea for illegal campaign contributions to Richard Nixon and obstruction of justice, and was pardoned by Ronald Reagan in 1989.
At his Saturday victory celebration, Menefee vowed to push for universal health coverage, pursue impeachment proceedings against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem over ICE operations, and “tear ICE up from the roots.” He also addressed Trump directly, highlighting the legacy of former Democrat Barbara Jordan, a prominent advocate for Nixon’s impeachment in 1974. Menefee declared, “The results here tonight are a mandate for me to work as hard as I can to oppose your agenda, to fight back against where you’re taking this country and to investigate your crimes.”
These Democratic wins in traditionally Republican districts come as The New York Times and leading civil rights organizations warn that the integrity of the 2026 elections could be at risk due to Trump’s repeated attempts to interfere in elections for personal and political gain. The editorial emphasized that assuming the midterms will be “safe” overlooks a pattern of lawbreaking and threats to American democracy.
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