Trump Claims Not To Know About Election In Texas After Dem Flips GOP Seat—Despite Posting About It The Day Before

President Donald Trump has people raising their eyebrows after he claimed not to know about Democrats flipping a Republican-held state Senate seat in Texas just a day after encouraging his MAGA followers on Truth Social to go out and vote in the special election.

On Saturday, Taylor Rehmet, a Fort Worth machinist and Air Force veteran, prevailed over Republican Leigh Wambsganss of Southlake to claim the open seat in Senate District 9. The district had strongly backed Trump in 2024 by a 17-point margin. The contest advanced to a runoff after no contender earned more than 50 percent of the vote in November.

Rehmet thanked "everyone for being involved and helping with this campaign," crediting his win to "every-day working people."

Rehmet won despite the fact that earlier Trump had thrown his support behind Wambsganss, writing the following on Truth Social:

"Today is the day! To all Voters in Texas’ 9th State Senate District: GET OUT AND VOTE for a phenomenal Candidate, Leigh Wambsganss. She is a highly successful Entrepreneur, and an incredible supporter of our Movement to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN."

"My very good friend, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, needs a strong conservative Republican in SD-9 to KEEP TEXAS RED! The Radical Left Democrats are spending a fortune to beat a true MAGA Warrior, Leigh Wambsganss. You can win this Election for Leigh, who has my Complete and Total Endorsement."

"POLLS CLOSE AT 7 P.M. GET OUT AND VOTE FOR LEIGH WAMBSGANSS! Find your closest Polling Location here. Leigh will NEVER let Texas, or the USA, down!"

You can see his post below.

@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social

But when asked to respond to Rehmet’s stunning upset, Trump appeared unaware of the race altogether and seemed to think he himself had been on the ballot, responding:

"I don't know. I didn't hear about it. Somebody ran -- where? ... I'm not involved in that. That's a local Texas race. You mean I won by 17, and this person lost? Things like that happen."

"You don't know whether or not that's transferable. ... You put the Democrats in and you end up with open borders again, crime all over the place. We have no crime anymore. Think of it, the lowest crime we've had in 125 years, in recorded history."

"The year 1900. That's a very long time ago. No, I didn't know anything about it. I mean, I know there's a race going but it's too bad. What can I say? I have nothing to do with it."

You can hear what he said in the video below.

Trump was swiftly called out.

The results come as Trump’s public approval remains stuck near 40 percent.

A January AP-NORC survey found that most U.S. adults disapprove of his handling of immigration, trade and foreign policy, along with the broader economy. Democrats argued that Saturday’s outcome in Texas underscores growing voter resistance to Republican candidates and agendas under Trump’s second term.

Trump and Vice President JD Vance have urged states to reshape congressional maps in ways that favor Republicans ahead of the elections that will decide control of Congress. In response, some Democratic-led states—particularly California—have signaled they are prepared to pursue aggressive redistricting of their own.