Senator John Cornyn apparently saw his Senate seat as his retirement plan, as far too many in the Senate also do.

A Republican senator from Texas certainly has some level of job security, and John Cornyn has spent nearly 24 years in the Senate. Certainly not as long as some, but long enough to feel comfortable and secure and special. But then John Cornyn got knocked out in the primary by Ken Paxton just last month, which was likely helped by President Trump endorsing Paxton. Yes, Paxton has quite a lot of personal baggage (not a Nazi tattoo, though) which may make this race harder, even against beta male James Talarico. But it seems clear that the experience has left a bitter taste in Cornyn’s mouth.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) predicted in a new interview that the two years after the November midterm elections will be the “most miserable two years” of President Trump’s life.

Cornyn spoke with The New York Times in his first extensive interview following his defeat to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), whom Trump endorsed shortly before the Lone Star State’s primary runoff last month.

He said he foresees a rough future for Republican lawmakers and the president during the remainder of Trump’s term, and he suggested the Senate is also in for a “bumpy ride” the rest of this year. He added that Trump is hurting the party with his insistence on “slavish” loyalty.

“It’s going to make things harder, certainly more expensive in Texas, and make it harder around the country,” Cornyn said. “I don’t say that with any sort of desire for vengeance; I just think that’s the way it’s going to be. He’s going to have the most miserable two years of his life in the last two years of his term, I think, because I think November is going to be a disaster.”

November may well be a bloodbath for Democrats. Traditionally, the midterms are not kind to the party in power, and if the war in Iran is not wrapped up and gas prices have not come down, things could get very bad indeed. But even as John Cornyn swears he isn’t a sore loser, he’s plenty pissed that President Trump endorsed his opponent – which sounds like a sore loser.

The Texas Republican said he is not a “wounded bear” looking for payback or retribution, though he maintained that he holds the right to choose “where I’m going to –– or going to not defer” to Trump.

Cornyn said he thought he and Paxton would square off in the primary runoff without Trump’s endorsement in the race, but “he couldn’t resist.” The senator said when “devoted MAGA supporters … saw what President Trump said when he said it, I think it no doubt had an influence.”

“I do think the most important factor was just the small turnout, but certainly the president’s endorsement had an impact,” he added.

Further evidence of sour grapes? John Cornyn is refusing to support or campaign for Ken Paxton. That’s his prerogative, certainly, but doesn’t help the perception that he’s big mad about losing.

And then the fights began. Scott Presler, who has been hyperfocused on voter registration drives and issues for years, appealed to John Cornyn on X after a conversation they had about the SAVE America Act. Cornyn – or whoever controls his X account – decided to name call instead.

Grifter https://t.co/Nu22P8OXGp

— Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) June 11, 2026

That post is undergoing a ratio, and most everyone is offended on Presler’s behalf. The man worked tirelessly to deliver Pennsylvania for Donald Trump in 2024 by holding voting drives for the Amish, and HE’S the “grifter”???

I don't like Paxton one bit but it's weird to me that Cornyn would be so weirdly publicly hostile to @ScottPresler, who is not a grifter (man, Scott would be so much richer if he was a grifter) https://t.co/3zQ0LbKzWp

— PoIiMath (@politicalmath) June 12, 2026

But John Cornyn wasn’t finished. It looks like the SAVE America Act is a sore spot with him, as he also picked a fight with his fellow senator, Mike Lee of Utah, over it. Lee didn’t even mention Cornyn’s name in his post, and yet Cornyn’s post goes after Lee. Projection much?

Mike, I am a co-sponsor and have repeatedly voted for this but you don’t have the votes. @LeaderJohnThune can’t change that. It is math. Try focusing on Democrats instead of Republicans. Republican on Republican attacks are hurting our chances to win the majority in November. https://t.co/pPsx67mkii

— Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) June 12, 2026

Lee was confused about how his first post was an “attack on Republicans,” but chose to be much more charitable in his responses to Cornyn’s account – by assuming it wasn’t Cornyn at the keyboard.

Once my friend John Cornyn realizes that you’re saying this in his name—whoever you are—I don’t think he’ll be happy with you.

— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) June 12, 2026

Nothing good is said by politicians on X after 10 pm (unless they are reacting to breaking news), so someone needs to tell John Cornyn to put his phone down before bedtime. And maybe he should focus on what his life is going to look like after leaving the Senate. Burning bridges and being spiteful to people who are not Donald Trump is no way to keep doors open or keep allies. And if he isn’t going to campaign for Paxton, then he will have plenty of time to contemplate the meaning of life without the title of “senator” in front of his name. There’s a life outside of elected office, and John Cornyn needs to find it instead of acting like a sore loser.

Featured image: Senator John Cornyn, official Congressional portrait, cropped, public domain