Cornyn publishes op-ed backing filibuster reform for SAVE America Act

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, on Wednesday published an op-ed in the New York Post endorsing changes to Senate rules to advance the SAVE America Act in the upper chamber, but declined to defend his position change just hours later.

Cornyn's op-ed saw him state that "I support whatever changes to Senate rules that may prove necessary for us to get the SAVE America Act and homeland security funding past the Democrats’ obstruction, through the Senate, and on the president’s desk for his signature." He further explicitly said he would be open to the "talking filibuster," a proposal from Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah.

During an exchange with NBC News's Brennan Leach on Wednesday morning, Cornyn placed his hand in front of the camera and told the reporter to "go away." He further denied claims that he only changed his position to win President Donald Trump's endorsement. When pressed on his previous statements saying that "nuking the filibuster" would mean taking a "wrecking ball" to the Senate rules, he merely stated that he had previously been open to reforms.

Cornyn advanced to a runoff with Attorney General Ken Paxton in the first round of the Republican primary this month. Though Trump initially stated he planned to make an endorsement and ask the disfavored candidate to drop out, he has not done so.

Paxton, for his part, offered to drop out of the race entirely if Cornyn forced the bill through the Senate and sent it to Trump's desk. Trump himself has expressed support for such a move.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.