Keith Self

President Donald Trump was "focused on the November election" when he issued his endorsement in the Texas U.S. Senate GOP primary race, Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, told Newsmax on Wednesday.

Appearing on "Wake Up America" alongside House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., Self said Trump's decision to back Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, reflects the president's determination to keep the seat in Republican hands.

"I think the president has focused on the November election because I think it became increasingly obvious that Ken Paxton was going to be the nominee," Self told co-hosts Sharla McBride and Marc Lotter.

Trump's endorsement of Paxton shook up the race in Texas, where Cornyn has served in the Senate for more than two decades and remains a powerful figure in the GOP establishment.

But many grassroots conservatives have rallied behind Paxton, viewing him as more closely aligned with Trump and the MAGA movement.

Self suggested Trump recognized the political momentum behind Paxton and stepped in to strengthen Republican chances heading into the general election.

"Having a Democratic senator from the state of Texas would be unthinkable," Self said. "It would be a tsunami across the United States. We can't have that."

The comments came during a broader discussion about the growing influence of Trump endorsements in Republican primaries nationwide.

Emmer said Trump remains the undisputed leader of the GOP and credited the president with helping propel several Republican Senate candidates to victory.

"It shouldn't come as a surprise," Emmer said. "Donald Trump is the leader of our party. His endorsement matters."

The lawmakers also discussed their opposition to a proposed central bank digital currency, or CBDC, which critics say could give the federal government sweeping new powers over Americans' financial transactions.

Self warned a government-controlled digital dollar would dramatically expand surveillance capabilities and threaten financial privacy.

"This is the third leg in the surveillance state tool," Self said.

He pointed to existing technologies, including automated license plate reader systems and other forms of digital tracking, arguing a CBDC would allow Washington bureaucrats to directly monitor or even restrict purchases made by ordinary Americans.

"The federal government can tell you, you can't buy that F-350 pickup because they don't want you to have a diesel pickup," Self said. "Or what about if you just visit a gun store?"

Self also referenced the Canadian government's freezing of bank accounts belonging to trucker protesters during the COVID-era demonstrations, warning similar actions could occur in the United States if federal officials gain control over a programmable digital currency system.

"That's what this would give the federal government the authority and the ability to do," Self said.

Congressional Republicans have increasingly pushed legislation blocking the Federal Reserve from issuing a CBDC directly to Americans, arguing it would undermine constitutional liberties and financial independence.

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