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‘Stone Cold Loser!’ Trump Lashes Out at Karl Rove After Shock Break With Republicans
President Donald Trump has launched a sharp attack on longtime Republican strategist Karl Rove after Rove said he plans to vote for a Democrat in a Texas statewide race — a rare break from his decades-long Republican voting history.
Rove, a former adviser to President George W. Bush and a longtime figure in Texas Republican politics, said he intends to support Democratic candidate Jon Rosenthal in the race for the Texas Railroad Commission.
According to The Texas Tribune, Rove made the revelation during a private luncheon in Austin. He said the decision came after Republican candidate Bo French faced backlash over social-media comments concerning South Asian students at the University of Texas at Austin. Rove reportedly described French as a “bigot.”
Rove also reportedly said that voting for Rosenthal would mark only the second time he has supported a Democratic candidate. His previous Democratic vote was for Texas Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock in 1994.
Trump fires back
Rove’s decision quickly drew a response from Trump.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump criticized the veteran Republican strategist, saying Rove was “so bad for the Republican Party” and “completely wrong so often.”
Trump also accused Rove of suffering from what he called “Trump Derangement Syndrome” and questioned why Fox News and The Wall Street Journal continue to feature him as a political commentator.
Trump ended his attack with a blunt description of Rove: “The guy is a stone cold loser!”
A Republican feud with a Texas race at the center
The dispute centers on the Texas Railroad Commission race between Republican Bo French and Democrat Jon Rosenthal.
French came under criticism after a social-media post about the University of Texas football crowd triggered accusations of racism. Several prominent Republicans also criticized the post, while French defended his position.
Rove’s decision is particularly notable because of his long history within the Republican Party. His break with the GOP candidate has now placed him directly at odds with Trump, who has continued to attack Rove publicly.
The clash highlights a broader disagreement inside the Republican Party over candidates, political messaging and how much influence Trump should have over Republican politics.
For now, the Texas race has become more than a contest for a seat on the Railroad Commission — it has also become the latest stage for a very public fight between two prominent figures from the Republican political world.