Trump floats Venezuela as "51st state" at Texas rally for Paxton as Talarico holds rival rally in Lubbock

As of 9:09 a.m. ET, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026

Update (Oct. 28, 2026, 9:09 a.m. ET): This story has been updated with President Trump's remarks at the Port of Corpus Christi, where he suggested Venezuela could become the 51st state, according to a transcript of the speech.

President Donald Trump is campaigning in Texas on Tuesday for Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton, trying to hold a state that has not elected a Democrat statewide since 1994 against a challenge from Democrat James Talarico, one week before the Nov. 3 midterm elections.

Speaking at the Port of Corpus Christi, Trump pointed to a tanker offshore. "See that little ship out there? It's got one million barrels of oil on it from Venezuela. And we're celebrating the greatest oil victory in history," he said, according to a Roll Call Factba.se transcript of the speech. He said the oil "is being provided to the United States at zero cost to the American taxpayer."

"It will become a prosperous country, and who knows, maybe someday soon it will become a prosperous 51st state. That's possible," Trump said of Venezuela, according to the transcript. "Let's make it the 51st state. And instead of a president, we'll have an election for a governor. How about that?" CNN published video of the remark.

Al Jazeera reported that it was not immediately clear on what basis the oil had been shipped or whether the details Trump gave were correct, and that Venezuela's interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, had not commented on the shipment. The Guardian noted that the United States attacked Venezuela in January and captured its longtime leader, Nicolás Maduro, and that Trump says a deal with the country's U.S.-backed interim government will cover "billions" of barrels of oil.

Trump's schedule called for him to speak at the Port of Corpus Christi at 3 p.m. ET and at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center at 7 p.m. ET, The Associated Press and USA Today reported. Talarico plans events in Midland, Amarillo and Lubbock, AP reported, including an 8 p.m. ET rally at Lubbock's Fiesta Center, according to USA Today.

Tanker stop and guests

Secretary of State Marco Rubio was set to join Trump to show off a newly arrived tanker carrying Venezuelan crude to be processed in Texas refineries, according to a congressional aide and two U.S. officials who spoke to AP on condition of anonymity. Trump said during his Texas swing that he and Rubio planned to visit the tanker, USA Today reported. It is the first time Rubio has traveled with Trump on the campaign trail this cycle, AP reported.

Former NFL players Johnny Manziel, Danny Amendola and Colt McCoy, all of whom grew up in Texas, were set to join Trump at both rallies, a White House official told USA Today. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, who is in a close race in Texas' 15th Congressional District, was set to appear with him in Corpus Christi, USA Today reported.

The race

The contest is one of the most closely watched of the year and will help decide control of the Senate, where Republicans hold a 53-47 majority. An Emerson College Polling/Nexstar Media survey released Oct. 22 found Talarico at 48% and Paxton at 46%, within the poll's 3.1-point margin of error. A Cook Political Report poll released Oct. 21 had Talarico ahead 49% to 44%, USA Today reported.

Talarico, a former public school teacher, has raised more than $146 million through Oct. 14, according to Federal Election Commission reports cited by USA Today. Paxton, the state attorney general, raised $22 million, including for the primary in which he defeated four-term Sen. John Cornyn. Outside groups have spent $153 million opposing Talarico and $91 million supporting Paxton through Oct. 20, according to OpenSecrets data cited by USA Today. Elon Musk has backed Paxton with more than $150 million, USA Today reported.

Talarico has made the race competitive by capitalizing on a difficult political environment for Republicans and on Paxton's history of ethical and legal problems, AP reported. Paxton was impeached by the Texas House over bribery allegations and acquitted by the state Senate, USA Today noted. Members of the Bush family, including former President George W. Bush's brother Neil and daughter Barbara, have backed Talarico.

Mississippi on Monday

Trump opened the week Monday night in Corinth, Mississippi, campaigning for Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, who faces an unexpectedly strong challenge from Democrat Scott Colom, a local prosecutor, AP reported via NPR. Trump told the crowd he had come to make sure Hyde-Smith wins and attacked Colom from the stage. He also told the crowd the war with Iran would be over soon, according to AP. Hyde-Smith remains the favorite in a state Trump has won three times by an average of nearly 20 points, AP reported.