WASHINGTON – Sen. John Cornyn sought to blunt doubts Sunday about his conservative credentials, arguing he’s been fully supportive of President Donald Trump, even as the president has yet to endorse in the race.
Cornyn, on Fox News Sunday, said his voting record puts him squarely in line with Texas’ GOP base, citing his backing of Trump’s judicial nominees, his recent signature budget bill and the 2017 federal tax cuts.
In the March 3 Republican primary, Cornyn’s main challengers, Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt of Houston, have questioned his loyalty to the party’s agenda. Asked about that, Cornyn said, “My voting record is consistently in support of the president’s policies.”
He said he believes “the responsibility of the majority party is to support the president of the same party.” Cornyn said he has maintained a good relationship with Trump and that any endorsement would come “on his timeline.”
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Other highlights of the interview with Cornyn, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee:
Iran: He praised Trump’s hard line on Iran, saying military strikes set back Tehran’s nuclear program “months if not years” and that the president has constitutional authority to act to protect U.S. interests.
Venezuela: Cornyn described U.S. policy toward Venezuela as a deliberate, “multi-year transition” that ultimately would benefit Venezuelans and reduce drug trafficking.
Greenland: He rejected talk of military action and predicted the issue over control would be resolved through negotiation because “the president’s the consummate deal maker.”
The Fox News Sunday host, Shannon Bream, said the other Texas Senate Republican candidates will be invited to appear on the program.