Trump slams Karl Rove after GOP strategist says he'll back a Democrat

Donald Trump used his Truth Social platform to denounce Karl Rove, describing him as detrimental to the Republican Party and suffering from "Trump Derangement Syndrome." Rove, speaking at a lunch in Austin, said he would cast his vote for Houston Democrat Jon Rosenthal for state railroad commissioner, rejecting GOP nominee Bo French, whom he called a "bigot" after French posted a racially charged comment about University of Texas students.

The remark drew swift bipartisan backlash, notably from Republican Senator John Cornyn, though French doubled down, dismissing critics as insufficiently conservative. Rove noted his only prior Democratic vote was for Bob Bullock in 1994 and has increasingly distanced himself from Trump, questioning the president's midterm strategy in one outlet's op-ed. In that piece, he warned that Trump's heavy focus on personal advertising could hurt Republican candidates by tying them to an unpopular figure. Trump responded by labeling Rove a "stone-cold loser" and criticizing media outlets that continue to give him a platform.