Cornered by Big Bend backlash, Texas Republicans tread carefully around Trump

Most of the state’s GOP leaders have hedged on the White House's plans for the region

Published

August 24, 2026 6:00AM (EDT)

An excavator plows through land during construction for a section of border wall near Santa Elena Canyon on August 14, 2026 in Big Bend National Park, Texas. Contractors have begun construction of the Trump administration’s 30-foot southern border wall through Big Bend National Park. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

This article originally appeared on The Texas Tribune.

Cornered by Big Bend backlash, Texas Republicans tread carefully around Trump

Other newsrooms on this story

Related reading

The Bipartisan Backlash to Trump’s Bulldozing of a Texas Landmark

Other newsrooms on this story

Related reading

The Bipartisan Backlash to Trump’s Bulldozing of a Texas Landmark

Bulldozers roll into Big Bend National Park to build Trump border wall

‘A crazed road-building spree’: Bipartisan Texans slam Big Bend border…

Confused about Big Bend area border wall plans? Here’s where things stand.

Rio Grande rage: Why are Texans just saying no to Trump's border wall?

CBP backs off border wall construction plans in Big Bend National Park