Ken Paxton campaign rally removal of Black influencer sparks controversy

Thelma Louise, a Black conservative influencer with over 200,000 TikTok followers, was escorted out of a campaign rally for Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton in San Antonio on October 18. Louise, who has publicly supported Donald Trump and the Republican Party for several years, reported that she was asked to leave because the campaign manager requested her removal.

Louise stated she drove two hours to attend the “Come and Take It” tour event, which was intended to promote early voting. In videos shared on social media, she expressed shock and disbelief, noting that she had done nothing wrong and was simply recording footage to share with her audience. She emphasized her political allegiance, noting she left the Democratic Party two years ago and has served as a volunteer for the Trump campaign.

The Paxton campaign has not provided a public explanation for the incident. The event has drawn significant online attention, raising discussions regarding the treatment and representation of Black conservatives within the MAGA movement.