The White House paid tribute to the International Association of Fire Fighters today during a Rose Garden luncheon recognizing the service and sacrifice of first responders nationwide. Guests were served an early‑autumn menu featuring butternut squash soup, grilled prime New York strip steak, and garden carrot cake with ice cream. Tables were decorated with red and white USA caps embroidered with “45” and “47,” a nod to President Donald Trump’s nonconsecutive terms. During his remarks, the President shifted to national politics, highlighting his recent travel and focusing on the heated Texas Senate race between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico. Trump criticized Talarico for being off the campaign trail for nearly two weeks, saying, “I never heard of a flu that lasted that long, but maybe he had a different kind of flu we don’t know about. He said bad things — talked badly about Jesus, talked badly about many things.” He praised Paxton as “the best attorney general ...