John Cornyn has been directly involved in politics for more than 35 years. For several years now, he's been a member of the U.S. Senate. He is even becoming one of its most influential members.
A Republican, Cornyn, is also up for re-election in 2020 in Texas. Until recently, the race wouldn't be considered very competitive. Cornyn won his last general election by almost 30 points.
He's still favored to win in 2020, but it's been much stricter sledding this time around. In large part because of issues stemming from President Donald Trump. He was probably amplified by Texas being one of the states most affected by COVID-19. And Cornyn could be starting to let his frustration show.
Has harsh words for Trump's COVID-19 positions
Donald Trump was recently hospitalized after becoming ill from the COVID-19. Even after this, he still doesn't seem to take the virus very seriously at all publicly. Trump is one of many people connected to a White House Supreme Court event who've since developed COVID-19.
Including Melania Trump, the chair of the Republican Party, and multiple U.S. senators. Even former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was also hospitalized.
The Hill reports that John Cornyn is not very impressed with President Trump regarding COVID-19. Apparently, about either the president's personal case or the wider situation at large.
The senator had many things to say about Trump himself catching the novel Coronavirus. He said that he thought Trump 'let his guard down.' Cornyn also stated that Trump was trying to demonstrate, incorrectly, 'that the danger is not still with us.' He added that he believed the president 'got over his skis' and indicated that Trump should exercise self-discipline.
Cornyn's comments extended to the Trump administration dealing with COVID-19 as a whole. He says Trump's message has been 'we got this.' 'And clearly, we don't have this,' the Texas senator responds.
Cornyn is a former judge
John Cornyn was elected as a Texas District Court judge in the 1980s in San Antonio. In 1990, he won a seat as an associate justice on the Texas Supreme Court. He served one full term on the Supreme Court. Afterward, he ran for the position of attorney general of Texas and won.
Cornyn was first elected to the Senate in 2002. He's been re-elected twice since then. In 2005, President George W. Bush, a Texas native, considered Cornyn for two openings on the U.S. Supreme Court.
From 2013 to 2015, Cornyn was the Senate minority whip. And from 2015 to 2019, he served as the majority whip. Senate Republican rules prohibited him from serving as a whip any longer. But he does remain a prominent figure. According to The Dallas Morning News, Cornyn was named the best member of Congress for constituent services.