Trump in Texas: President speaks on energy, economy in Corpus Christi Friday

Trump fails to endorse a Senate candidate

There was no big endorsement announcement from President Donald Trump as he spoke in Corpus Christi on Friday. The Republican race for Senate is almost certainly headed to a May runoff, which has many questioning whether the president will endorse before the a runoff.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - President Donald Trump headed to Texas on Friday on his first trip since the State of the Union.

The president spoke at the Port of Corpus Christi about his energy and economic policies.

Trump delivers speech in Texas

Trump reinforced his message from Tuesday's address, where he declared a return to economic prosperity and a return to a more secure America.

Trump reiterated his claim that America is "the hottest country anywhere in the world" touting increased production of oil and natural gas and an improving economy.

The president named many Republican lawmakers on the sidelines, including those in the heated U.S. Senate race, though he still withheld an endorsement. Several guest speakers took the stage, including energy workers, border agents, and actor Dennis Quaid. 

FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 13: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a visit to the Fort Bragg U.S. Army base on February 13, 2026 in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Trump visited the base to honor special forces involved in the military o

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The other side:

Ahead of Trump's visit to Texas, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the campaign arm of the Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives, issued a statement refuting the president's claims.

"If Donald Trump wants to remind South Texans how terrible the economy is, he can be our guest," DCCC spokesperson Madison Andrus said. "No amount of lies will change the fact that home building has ground to a halt because of his recklessness, his chaotic tariffs are devastating the domestic oil industry, and he’s abandoned Texas farmers and ranchers to cut a deal with Argentina. We won’t stop the Floreses from fighting over who gets to hitch their wagon to that failing agenda."

The "Floreses" is a reference to congressional candidates Maya Flores and Eric Flores, who are battling in the Republican primary in Texas' 34th Congressional District. Eric Flores has Trump's endorsement.

Trump's visit comes on the final day of early voting in the Texas primaries.

Eyes on the Texas Senate race

Both Republicans and Democrats vying for the U.S. Senate in November have been locked in an expensive campaign for their party's nomination. The campaigns have spent more than $110 million on advertising in an effort to sway voters to their cause.

Trump has yet to endorse any of the three Republican candidates seeking the nomination: incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt. All three attended Friday's event.

Last week, Trump declined to make an endorsement when asked about the Senate race.

On Friday, the president sent out a flurry of endorsements in Texas races ahead of the visit. The senate candidates remain without an endorsement. 

Trump allows endorsement of Rep. Tony Gonzales to stand

Another Texas primary being watched is in San Antonio, where Rep. Tony Gonzales is facing a challenge from gun manufacturer Brandon Herrera.

Gonzales is at the center of a sexting scandal with an ex-staffer who later died.

Members of the Republican Party have called on Gonzales to resign, while Speaker Mike Johnson said earlier this week that he'd had a conversation with the congressman and said that he would not ask Gonzales to resign until the investigation played out.

Gonzales was endorsed by Trump earlier this year. In his Friday speech, Trump said hello to Gonzales from the stage, but said nothing else about the congressman or his current scandal.