Ahead of Trump's visit, Rep. Castro and San Antonio veterans call for end to 'endless war' in Iran

SAN ANTONIO - The KSAT 12 team is covering President Donald Trump's expected appearance at San Antonio's Freeman Coliseum on Wednesday for a rally ahead of the midterm election. [KSAT 12]

Democratic officials and military veterans gathered outside San Antonio City Hall on Wednesday morning to protest U.S. military involvement in Iran, hours before President Donald Trump was scheduled to hold a campaign rally across town at Freeman Coliseum.

U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, whose congressional district encompasses San Antonio, led the demonstration alongside Texas state Rep. Josey Garcia, an Iraq War veteran, and members of the veterans community. The group focused their message on what they characterized as perpetual conflict in the Middle East and its ripple effects on service members and Texas families alike.

The timing of the morning protest highlighted what organizers saw as a disconnect between state leadership and constituents affected by military deployment. Castro criticized Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who was scheduled to appear alongside Trump at the evening event, for prioritizing political considerations over servicemembers' welfare. According to audio obtained by national media outlets, Paxton had privately expressed concern that the Iran conflict and elevated fuel prices were hampering his U.S. Senate campaign prospects. "The war, it's gas prices ... it's over $6 a gallon for diesel," Paxton reportedly told donors at a private gathering, describing the economic pressures as his campaign's primary challenge.

Castro argued Paxton had missed an opportunity to advocate for ending military operations or to demonstrate empathy for ordinary Texans confronting higher fuel and food costs. "He didn't say that he asked Donald Trump to stop the war," Castro stated. "He thought only of himself and what it meant for his political future."

The gathering also addressed concerns regarding the USS Abraham Lincoln, scheduled to return to port after 321 days at sea, amid mounting reports of mental health deterioration and self-harm incidents among crew members.

Trump's campaign began allowing ticket requests through Republican Party channels for Wednesday's Freeman Coliseum event. The venue was expected to open its doors around 2:30 p.m., with the president's remarks slated to begin around 6 p.m. Republican National Committee spokesperson Zach Kraft characterized the turnout as reflecting strong voter enthusiasm ahead of November's midterm elections.