Former President Donald Trump issued a public rebuke of veteran Republican strategist Karl Rove on Monday, characterizing him as a negative influence on the Republican Party. The conflict stems from Rove’s recent announcement that he intends to vote for Democrat Jon Rosenthal for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission.

Rove’s decision to cross party lines in this specific race was prompted by social media activity from the Republican nominee, Bo French. French had authored a post regarding a university, which reportedly influenced Rove’s choice to support the Democratic opponent instead of the party nominee. Trump, who has frequently clashed with establishment figures within the GOP, utilized the incident to reiterate his long-standing disapproval of Rove, who served as a senior adviser to former President George W. Bush.

While the disagreement highlights ongoing tensions between the populist wing of the Republican Party, led by Trump, and traditional establishment strategists like Rove, the dispute remains centered on local Texas politics. Neither Rove nor French has issued a formal rebuttal to Trump’s specific comments as of the time of reporting. The exchange underscores the continued friction regarding party loyalty and the influence of traditional GOP advisers in the current political landscape.