DALLAS — As President Donald Trump prepares for his appearance at the Port of Corpus Christi this Friday, the undercurrents of a Republican Senate primary battle are capturing the spotlight. The race, featuring incumbent John Cornyn, state Attorney General Ken Paxton, and Rep. Wesley Hunt, has intensified with all candidates set to attend the event. Notably, Trump has refrained from tipping the scales in favor of any candidate.

However, the involvement of Trump’s 2024 campaign strategists with Senator Cornyn’s re-election campaign has stirred controversy among staunch MAGA supporters who favor Paxton. Tony Fabrizio, a leading pollster for Trump, and Chris LaCivita, a senior Trump campaign advisor, have both aligned with Cornyn, sparking criticism from Steve Bannon, a prominent MAGA advocate.

From a ranch in North Texas, Bannon, hosting his "War Room" show, expressed his discontent. “My belief is the Trump team should have stayed out of this race, absolutely,” he stated, reflecting a rift within the party.

The tension escalated following a sharp exchange between Bannon and LaCivita. Responding to Bannon’s criticism, LaCivita retorted via text, making a controversial reference to Bannon’s reported connections with Jeffrey Epstein. The Justice Department documents released in January detailed these associations, which Bannon has scarcely addressed, except to call for an independent investigation.

This intraparty conflict is emblematic of broader struggles within the Republican Party, as factions vie for influence and direction. Bannon, throwing his full support behind Paxton, views the potential runoff between Paxton and Cornyn as a decisive battle for the MAGA movement’s core. “The Paxton situation is critical because he has been the MAGA guy since Day One,” Bannon told Playbook, underscoring the symbolic significance of Paxton's candidacy to the grassroots MAGA base.

Meanwhile, the White House maintains a stance of neutrality, as conveyed by an official to POLITICO: “The president is neutral until he’s not,” adding that “John Cornyn votes with the President.” This statement underscores the delicate balance the administration seeks to maintain amid the heated primary.

As the political drama unfolds, the stakes are high not only for the candidates but also for the future trajectory of the Republican Party. Whether this Senate primary will forge new alliances or deepen existing divisions remains to be seen as the electoral battle intensifies in Texas.

Like this content? Consider signing up for POLITICO's Playbook newsletter.