Former President Donald Trump’s endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Monday for election to a third term.
And in doing so, Land Commissioner George P. Bush — the son of former Trump rival Jeb Bush — was publicly snubbed.
In a statement, Trump said Paxton is strong on crime, border security, gun rights, sound elections and the U.S. Constitution.
“He is a true Texan who will keep Texas safe — and will never let you down,” his endorsement message concluded.
The endorsement may have come as a surprise to some critics, who suspected that Bush could get the stamp of approval.
The younger Bush had broken with his family, expressed support for and even courted Trump, who has mocked the Bush family that was once the face of the Republican Party.
In social media postings, Bush said: “I’m running for Attorney General because Texans deserve integrity and honesty from the office of Texas’ top law enforcement official. Texans deserve a candidate without a laundry list of existing and potential criminal indictments.”
Trump once said of Bush, “this is the Bush that got it right.”
“This is the only Bush that likes me. I like him!”
But it was all for naught.
As strong as their relationship was, yet and still Trump opted to endorse Paxton over Bush.
And Twitter had a field day, calling the snub a humiliation, as many saw Bush’s praise of Trump as insincere.
And just like that, former President Trump likely snuffs out the political career of another member of the Bush family. @georgepbush had assiduously courted Trump for an endorsement or at least neutrality in the primary for Texas AG. Now Trump backs Paxton instead. pic.twitter.com/oD0HJfzb5U
— Garrett Haake (@GarrettHaake) July 27, 2021
George P. Bush sold out his whole goddamn family and bought-in to supporting Trump 100% only for Trump to turn around and endorse his opponent.
— Charlotte Clymer 🇺🇦 (@cmclymer) July 27, 2021
https://twitter.com/TravisAllen02/status/1419816690800631810?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1419816690800631810%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffpost.com%2Fentry%2Fgeorge-p-bush-trump-snub_n_60ff739ae4b073351629e2a9
The endorsement comes in the face of ongoing investigations of securities fraud allegations and whether his petitioning of the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the election of President Joe Biden constituted professional misconduct.
Allegations that Paxton abused his office to help an Austin businessman are also receiving FBI scrutiny after then-top Paxton aides leveled bribery and abuse-of-office allegations against him.
On social media, Paxton said he was “honored to receive the endorsement of President Donald J. Trump.”
Honored to receive the endorsement of President Donald J. Trump. pic.twitter.com/LMOtAjVooy
— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) July 27, 2021
Paxton had drawn challenges for the GOP nomination from not only Bush, but ex-state Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman.
The Guzman campaign did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
The Associated Press contributed to this article