President Trump called the character of Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar “faulty” after pardoning him, then doubled down on endorsing the Republican challenger in Texas.
At a San Antonio rally on Oct. 7, President Donald Trump revisited his 2025 pardon of Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar and the congressman’s choice to stay with the Democratic Party days later.
USA Today reported that Trump described Cuellar’s character as “a faulty one,” warned that Democrats would target him again if they win the midterms, and reinforced his endorsement of Republican Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina in the South Texas border district race.
Cuellar represents the 28th Congressional District, which runs from south San Antonio down to Laredo along the Texas-Mexico border. He has held the seat since 2004 and won reelection in 2024 by five points even after a federal indictment that year.
The Justice Department indicted Cuellar and his wife, Imelda, in 2024 on counts of bribery, conspiracy, and money laundering. Prosecutors accused them of accepting nearly $600,000 in bribes from a company tied to the Azerbaijan government and a bank headquartered in Mexico City.
Cuellar has maintained his innocence. In 2025, after the couple’s daughters pleaded with Trump on their parents’ behalf, the president issued pardons. The legal cases ended.
Trump told the San Antonio crowd what followed next did not match what he expected.
"But shockingly, after the pardon was given, then he and the wife were freed up. No more court cases... Cuellar announced only a few days later that he was going to stay and remain in the Democrat Party,"
Trump said at the time that the decision showed a “lack of loyalty.” He has said he believed Cuellar would become a Republican after the pardon.
Trump has also said the 2024 charges were politically motivated because Cuellar pushed back on Democratic immigration and border policies. That remains his stated view of the case.
Trump first endorsed Tano Tijerina in January 2026. At the October rally he went further, tying the local judge to the priorities of South Texas and the country.
"He loves Laredo, he loves all of South Texas, but most importantly, Tano (Tijerina) loves the United States of America, and he'll be a great Congressman,"
The race sits in a district Texas Republicans redrew in 2025 as part of a broader push for more U.S. House seats. In December 2025, the Cook Political Report shifted its rating from toss-up to “Lean Democratic,” signaling a tough November fight for the Republican challenger.
Cuellar stayed put with Democrats after the pardon cleared the court cases. Trump is now treating that choice as settled and is putting his weight behind the GOP alternative on the border.
Loyalty still counts in politics. Voters in South Texas will decide whether it counts enough this fall.
