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Donald Trump used a wide-ranging speech Friday at the Port of Corpus Christi to tout his second-term record, revisit themes from his recent State of the Union address and attack Democrats, but stopped short of issuing a closely watched endorsement in Texas’ heated Republican U.S. Senate primary.
Trump praised what he called his administration’s economic, immigration and energy accomplishments during the hourlong appearance, delivered against a backdrop of oil tankers and banners reading “American Energy Dominance.” Yet the president avoided backing any of the three major GOP contenders locked in a high-stakes Senate contest just days before Election Day.
The race pits incumbent Sen. John Cornyn against two challengers — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt — in what has become one of the most closely watched Republican primaries of the midterm cycle.
Before departing Washington, Trump told reporters he had “pretty much” decided whom to endorse but would not do so Friday, according to a White House pool report. During the speech, he acknowledged all three candidates without signaling a preference.
Foreign policy remarks and Cuba comments
While traveling to Texas, Trump also made off-the-cuff remarks suggesting the United States could pursue what he described as a “friendly takeover” of Cuba, comments that added to ongoing tensions between Washington and Havana.
“We could very well end up having a friendly takeover of Cuba after many, many years,” Trump told reporters, suggesting such a move would be welcomed by Cuban Americans in the United States.
The comments came a day after the Cuban government said its border patrol killed four Cuban expatriates living in the U.S. who attempted to enter the country by speedboat.
Energy speech that largely wasn’t
Although billed as an address on energy policy, Trump spent relatively little time on the subject. He briefly claimed credit for lowering gas prices and criticized the Biden administration’s regulatory approach, but quickly shifted to immigration enforcement, military operations abroad and election administration.
Trump again praised Immigration and Customs Enforcement and accused Democrats, without evidence, of relying on election fraud to win national races. He reiterated his support for the House-passed SAVE America Act, which would require most voters to present a passport or birth certificate to register, despite its slim prospects in the Senate.
“They will never win because their policy is no good,” Trump said of Democrats. “They can only win by cheating.”
Midterm focus and third-term tease
Trump framed the 2026 midterms as a referendum on his presidency, urging Republicans to defend their congressional majorities. He mocked Democratic lawmakers for not applauding portions of his State of the Union address earlier this week, calling them “crazy.”
“We got to win the midterms,” Trump told the crowd. “We brought this country back.”
He also again floated the idea of seeking a third presidential term — which is prohibited under the Constitution — repeating his false claim that the 2020 election was “stolen” from him.
“Maybe we do one more term,” Trump said. “We’re entitled to it because they cheated like hell.”
Texas Senate race outlook
Election Day in the Texas GOP Senate primary is Tuesday. With three prominent candidates splitting the vote, party officials expect the contest to head to a May runoff, likely between Cornyn and Paxton.
Trump wore a red hat emblazoned with “Gulf of America,” a reference to an executive order he signed early in his second term renaming the Gulf of Mexico — a move that drew international criticism but has been embraced by some supporters in Texas.
Venezuela and economic claims
At the start and end of the speech, Trump pointed to U.S. involvement in Venezuela following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, saying expanded oil imports from the country were helping stabilize energy prices.
Trump said the new Venezuelan government, led by Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, has been receptive to selling crude oil to the United States.
Government data, however, show energy prices in January were roughly unchanged from when Trump returned to office, while overall inflation remains at about 2.4%.
