Protests Disrupt Trump's Rally in San Antonio for Ken Paxton

President Donald Trump’s rally in San Antonio for Senate candidate Ken Paxton and other Republicans was interrupted multiple times shortly after he took the stage on Wednesday, October 4, 2026, as protesters shouted from the floor of the Freeman Coliseum. One protester recorded himself as he walked toward the exit, only to be confronted by an elderly man in a red Make America Great Again hat, who appeared to pull at the protester’s shirt and hair before being restrained by other attendees. Trump commented on the protests, stating, "These are paid protesters. They’re paid by enemies of our nation." He added, "If there are any more paid protesters, please raise your hand and get the hell out of here." During the rally, one protester exited while being insulted by Trump about his weight, and two others were removed as the crowd chanted, "U-S-A!" Several protesters, including one wearing the Spanish National Team’s World Cup kit, were escorted out by police. Approximately a dozen individuals disrupted the rally before leaving voluntarily or being forcibly removed, according to reporters traveling with the president. The disruptions caused Trump to pause several times as the crowd attempted to drown out the protesters’ chants. Trump shifted his focus from mocking Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico to making jokes about the protesters, saying, "He’s going back home to mom," referring to a young man who walked away from the stage. Trump continued to criticize Talarico, calling him a vegan and reducing the Texas Senate race to a preference for steak versus tofu. He claimed, "He’s been forced to eat meat for political reasons, and he’s throwing up all over the place," and compared Talarico's alleged diet to Paxton’s, stating, "I have a feeling Ken likes meat." Talarico has stated he is not a vegan, and PolitiFact rated Paxton’s claim about Talarico as false in May. Trump also announced that he will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to former Major League pitcher Roger Clemens, who won seven Cy Young Awards but was excluded from the Hall of Fame due to steroid allegations. The rally was Trump’s third stop in Texas in under a month and part of a campaign tour ahead of Election Day. His appearance alongside Paxton followed leaks from the attorney general’s private conversations, with Axios reporting that Paxton attributed his campaign troubles to factors beyond his control, including fuel prices and the Iran war. Paxton also blamed the GOP midterm convention for his declining poll numbers. A New York Times and Siena University poll released on October 4 found Talarico leading Paxton 51% to 45%, with voters indicating they believe Talarico would handle key issues better, including cost of living, health care, and tariffs. When asked in the Oval Office if he regretted endorsing Paxton due to the leaked comments, Trump defended Paxton, stating he would "be a great senator" and expressed no regrets about his endorsement.