The moment came during a fiery exchange on X, formerly Twitter, after Texas Gun Rights (TXGR) confronted Cornyn with his past.
In a cheeky reply to Cornyn’s accusation that Attorney General Ken Paxton was “shooting blanks,” TXGR fired back:
“Speaking of shooting, do you remember when you teamed up with Biden to spearhead gun control legislation?”
Cornyn’s response? Just one word: “No.”
Pepperidge Farm Remembers—And So Does Brandon Herrera
Cornyn’s denial ignited a digital inferno, with thousands of users flooding the replies with receipts, memes, and accusations of gaslighting the conservative base.
The “Pepperidge Farm Remembers” meme began circulating immediately—shared even by Paxton himself—implying Cornyn’s denial was more deflection than forgetfulness.
Others suggested something more serious was afoot.
But perhaps no response landed harder than the one from Brandon Herrera—popular YouTuber, gun rights activist, and newly announced congressional candidate challenging Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX-23) for a second time.
“Oh we’re going to eat you alive for this. This is a blatant f***ing lie,” Herrera posted.
“You and @RepTonyGonzales can try to run from your anti-gun record all you want, but we remember what you did.
You and Tony are the reason Biden’s anti-gun bill passed, and are an embarrassment to Texas.”
Gonzales was one of only a handful of House Republicans to join Cornyn in supporting the BSCA.
Cornyn’s Record: Betrayal in Broad Daylight
Cornyn’s role in the BSCA wasn’t hidden behind closed doors. It was public, well-documented, and celebrated by Democrats and gun control groups.
After the tragic May 2022 shooting in Uvalde, Cornyn was handpicked by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to work with Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) on what became Biden’s signature gun control win.
Cornyn’s fingerprints were all over the final package:
- Partial closure of the “boyfriend loophole”
- Expanded background checks (i.e., gun owner registration)
- Federal funding for “Red Flag” programs
- Grants to incentivize states to adopt gun confiscation laws
Biden himself thanked Cornyn by name during a celebratory White House event on June 25, 2022.
The backlash was immediate.
The Grassroots Revolt Is Just Beginning
Texas Gun Rights wasn’t alone in torching Cornyn’s credibility. Influencers, grassroots organizations, and gun owners across the country joined the digital pile-on.
“Perhaps at 73, Cornyn is starting to share more than just policy blunders with Biden,” TXGR President Chris McNutt told Breitbart News.
“That creeping forgetfulness might explain why he’s also in denial about those abysmal polls showing AG Paxton wiping the floor with him. Texas Gun Rights is happy to remind Cornyn — and all pro-gun Texans — of his blunders.”
Even @2aaccount threatened to campaign against Cornyn, while reminding voters of his support for the Fix-NICS registry expansion and multiple votes to fund Biden’s ATF.
Meanwhile, the National Association for Gun Rights PAC just endorsed Ken Paxton for Senate, following the lead of their state affiliate Texas Gun Rights PAC, which made the same endorsement in June.
“The Gun Control Lobby knows Cornyn is their best friend inside the GOP,” said Dudley Brown, Executive Director of NAGR PAC. “It’s time to replace him with a real fighter.”
Whether Cornyn’s denial was a senior moment or a cynical attempt at revisionist history, one thing is clear: gun owners aren’t buying it.
And with Ken Paxton surging in polls, Brandon Herrera taking aim at Gonzales, and a storm of grassroots firepower aligned against them, the 2026 GOP primary in Texas is shaping up to be a full-blown referendum on Cornyn’s betrayal—and maybe, his memory.
