The Art of the Deal
September 15, 2025 | Media Inquiries: jon@bouchefortexas.com
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX - Recently, several people have contacted me about mailers from my opponent claiming he is endorsed by President Trump. These questions usually come down to two simple points:
Is it true that President Trump endorsed your opponent?
Why would President Trump endorse someone who betrayed his constituents, joined the Democrats, and undermined the Republican majority in the Texas House?
First, on the question of endorsement:
The so-called “endorsement” was not a formal statement from President Trump. During a phone call with the Texas House regarding a single piece of legislation — the School Choice Bill — President Trump said he would endorse anyone who supported that bill. But there was no official announcement from his office, no social media post, and no formal letter of endorsement as is customary.
What happened next is that a PAC took that phone call, transcribed it, and attached an autopen signature of President Trump to it. That is what my opponent and his allies have been mailing out as if it were an official endorsement. In reality, it is a misleading piece of campaign propaganda.
Second, on the question of “why”:
To understand, you need to think like a negotiator. In President Trump’s book, The Art of the Deal, he explains that you must know the competition, use your leverage, and — above all — deliver results.
That principle applies here. Despite conservative media, the Republican Party of Texas, the Texas Attorney General, and even his own son calling out Dustin Burrows, President Trump still hinted at support. Why? Because he saw that under the Texas Constitution, he couldn’t simply remove the Burrowcrats. They were entrenched. The only path forward was to negotiate.
There’s an old story that captures this point. A man asks a woman if she would spend the night with him for a million dollars. She says yes. He then asks if she would do the same for twenty dollars. She angrily replies, “What kind of woman do you think I am?” The man answers, “We’ve already established what you are. Now we’re just negotiating the price.”
President Trump knew he was dealing with people who would sell out for power and position. That meant there was always a deal to be made. I believe the real prize he sought was passage of the redistricting map in Texas, giving Republicans stronger footing in the midterms and advancing his national agenda. When Trump dangled the possibility of an endorsement, Burrows and his allies folded instantly.