AN ELEPHANT AT a Republican Party convention in Texas made a “splash” when it urinated on the arena floor.
The Republican Party of Texas is holding its annual convention this week in Houston and had said that “exciting events” were in store.
Texas governor Greg Abbott took to the stage on Friday afternoon and at the end of his address, an announcer asked the crowed to clear the aisles for a “larger than life surprise”.
“Ya’ll are in for a memorable afternoon,” added the announcement.
Abbott then presented an elephant named Paige at the George R. Brown Convention Centre.
The logo of the Republican Party is an elephant and the Texas Republican Party posted a video of Paige passing through the convention and described it as a “treat” that guests “won’t ever forget”.
Welcome Paige! Thanks for stopping by the State Convention! What a treat for our delegates and guests - it’s one they won’t ever forget! 🐘 pic.twitter.com/1fx7OdFT7n
— Texas GOP (@TexasGOP) June 12, 2026
However, different video footage shows the elephant urinating on the floor of the convention centre.
“Governor Abbott closed out his speech at the Texas GOP convention with a live elephant. It then peed on the floor as it left the room,” said the Texas Democratic Party in a post on X.
— Texas Democratic Party (@texasdemocrats) June 12, 2026Governor Abbott closed out his speech at the Texas GOP convention with a live elephant. It then peed on the floor as it left the room.
The perfect metaphor for the Texas Republican Party. pic.twitter.com/mbOH6ERqDq
“The perfect metaphor for the Texas Republican party,” it added.
People can he heard saying “oh no” as the elephant stops and begins to urinate.
New York Times journalist Lauren McGaughy noted that it “took a giant pee right near the press area”.
They just led an elephant through the @TexasGOP convention and it took a giant pee right near the press area. pic.twitter.com/jpefJDuxq6
— Lauren McGaughy (@lmcgaughy) June 12, 2026
The appearance of Paige the elephant has garnered some criticism, with US journalist Yashar Ali remarking that it would have been a “confusing hell” for the elephant.
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) June 13, 2026Putting an elephant into a convention hall like this is torturing it beyond the full comprehension of any human being, because we do not possess the sensory capabilities elephants do.
Elephants have the strongest sense of smell in the animal kingdom.
They can smell WATER from… https://t.co/XU99NECPeO
“Hard artificial surfaces, in this case the convention hall floor, are terrible for elephants,” he added.