A Republican senator who desperately needs Donald Trump’s endorsement for a runoff election later this month was ridiculed on social media Tuesday for his obvious attempt at appealing to the president’s massive ego.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) may be the incumbent, but his political career could be toast later this month if Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton beats him in a May 26 runoff election for the Republican nomination.

A recent poll of Republican voters had Paxton leading Cornyn 48% to 45%. So far, Trump hasn’t endorsed either candidate, despite promising to “make a decision … maybe relatively soon,” a few days ago.

Since time is obviously of the essence, Cornyn apparently decided to use his power as a senator to rename a highway after the president — perhaps in a bid to sway Trump to his side.

Cornyn’s legislation would designate U.S. Route 287, which runs through Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Oklahoma and Texas, as a future interstate highway that would be renamed I-47 to honor Trump, the 47th president ― get it?

“Texas is Trump Country, and this bill cements that legacy by designating nearly 1,800 miles of open-road from Texas’ Gulf Coast to the edge of the U.S.-Canadian border as I-47 to forever be remembered as Trump Interstate,” Cornyn said in a statement.

I am proud to introduce legislation to rename US Highway 287 as Interstate 47 in honor of our 47th President @realDonaldTrump. My bill will upgrade one of our nation’s longest highways to a future interstate and save more than $5 BILLION in travel costs, all while honoring the… https://t.co/Ua8lxoZUeN

Considering Trump’s endorsement could help Cornyn win the runoff, many people on social media thought the bill was an obvious attempt to curry favor with the president.

And, yes, there was mockery.

Someone really wants that Trump endorsement… https://t.co/jB9ptwh6v7

This is just sad dude.

What an incredibly sad way to end a career in public service - just a complete submission to a false god who isn’t even popular in Texas anymore. https://t.co/BLT1e3l0mM

So embarrassing for you. https://t.co/tcshlceyHt

Things are getting desperate in the Texas primary runoff, it seems. https://t.co/oQW9N49yPo

This level of dickriding is so pathetic lol https://t.co/W12qojU6hn

This will finally make it possible to easily point out cringe on a map. https://t.co/MzWh012DLU

Not since Hillary Clinton said she carried hot sauce in her purse has an act of pandering been so blatant and deceitful.John Cornyn is RINO scum.Sad. https://t.co/uvHCo8v7Xn pic.twitter.com/KyEWsBoeFD

This is the lamest attempt at pandering ever. Just stop embarrassing yourself. We're not voting for you. https://t.co/Ev81Up4Ynz

When you give up every shred of dignity and self respect to gain the endorsement of an 80 year old man, who is polling at 35%. BTW, it probably won’t work anyway. https://t.co/uOxWDNCeVP

You can name all the roads and bridges in the world after him, he’s never going to love you back. https://t.co/lfaSt0HIQb

doing this as a last ditch effort to prevent trump from endorsing paxton is so unbelievably pathetic. and it also might work https://t.co/Ki5aw6Lb9M

HuffPost reached out to Cornyn’s office for comment, but no one immediately responded.

However, he hasn’t always been so sycophantic toward Trump.

Back in 2023, he was skeptical about Trump’s ability to win in 2024, and admitted, “I think President Trump’s time has passed him by and what’s the most important thing to me is we have a candidate who can actually win.”

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