President Trump slammed Karl Rove as a “stone cold loser” after reports that Rove will back a Democrat in a key Texas energy-regulator race.
Story Highlights
- Karl Rove reportedly said he will vote for Democrat Jon Rosenthal in Texas’ Railroad Commission race after Bo French’s controversial post.
- President Trump blasted Rove on Truth Social within hours, escalating a long-running feud.
- Reports say Rove called French a “bigot” at a private Austin luncheon, citing the social media post about South Asian students.
- Rove reportedly said his last Democratic vote was in 1994, making this a rare break with GOP voting.
What Rove Reportedly Said and Why It Matters
Texas Tribune reporting says Karl Rove told a private lunch in Austin that he will vote for Democrat Jon Rosenthal for the Texas Railroad Commission. Attendees said Rove objected to Republican nominee Bo French’s recent social media post about South Asian students at the University of Texas at Austin, and he called French a “bigot.” The same report says Rove noted he last voted for a Democrat in 1994, underscoring how rare this move would be for him.
The Texas Railroad Commission oversees oil and gas, which drives Texas jobs and national energy strength. Control of that office affects permitting, pipeline safety, and drilling rules. A crossover vote by a high-profile Republican strategist makes headlines because it touches energy security and party unity. The reporting relies on unnamed attendees and does not include a transcript, so exact wording is limited to the outlet’s account. The core claim remains that Rove plans to back Rosenthal over French.
Trump’s Fast Response and Ongoing Feud
President Trump responded within hours on Truth Social, calling Rove a “stone cold loser,” according to coverage that tracked the exchange. This fits a pattern of public clashes between Trump and Rove that goes back years, including sharp words when Rove criticized Trump’s message or performance. The latest jab followed the lunch report about Rove’s vote and his “bigot” label for French, which turned a Texas down-ballot race into a national flashpoint.
Past coverage shows Trump has often dismissed Rove as wrong on strategy and tone during earlier disputes. Those earlier reports framed Rove as a regular Trump critic, which helps explain why this Texas story spread so quickly. The new remarks gave fresh fuel to that feud, but the trigger was specific: Rove’s reported reaction to French’s social media post and his decision to support a Democrat in a statewide energy-oversight race.
French’s Post, Rosenthal’s Opening, and GOP Stakes
Coverage states French drew criticism after sharing a photo and comments about South Asian students in the Texas Longhorns’ student section. That post sparked pushback and created an opening for Democrat Jon Rosenthal to court moderate voters. Reports say Rove cited that post as the reason he would cross over. The episode shows how one online post can reshape a race that touches energy costs, jobs, and the state’s oil and gas backbone.
President Donald Trump doesn't get into the details about the motivation for this Karl Rove attack. Not a word. But he lets him have it in a way that makes his stock go up. #txlegehttps://t.co/w4xM3fTrza
— Mike Hailey (@capitolinside) September 15, 2026
For conservatives, the stakes are clear. The Railroad Commission sets rules that can raise costs, slow drilling, and hand wins to green activists if the wrong policies take hold. Many on the right will see Rove’s move as giving leverage to Democrats who push tighter controls. Others may call it a protest vote tied to conduct, not policy. Either way, this fight is about values, energy freedom, and keeping Texas strong and affordable for working families.
Sources:
thegatewaypundit.com, texastribune.org, the-independent.com
