President Donald Trump expressed strong criticism of Senator Rand Paul on Tuesday after the Kentucky Republican voiced his opposition to a budget bill backed by Trump, which includes a significant increase in the debt ceiling.
During an appearance on Finance Newso’s “Squawk Box,” Paul, known for his libertarian stance, stated that he could not support a proposed rise of $5 trillion in the debt ceiling contained within the Senate’s iteration of the budget bill currently under consideration.
Trump responded swiftly, taking to Truth Social to assert that Paul lacks a proper understanding of what he refers to as the “one big, beautiful bill.”
According to Trump, Paul has failed to recognize that the legislation, which promises tax and spending cuts but is predicted to widen national deficits, will generate “tremendous GROWTH.”
“He loves voting ‘NO’ on everything; he thinks it’s good politics, but it’s not,” Trump remarked regarding the senator’s frequent opposition to proposals.
In a subsequent post, Trump targeted Paul on a more personal level.
He contended that Paul “never has any practical or constructive ideas,” labeling his proposals as “crazy (losers!). The people of Kentucky can’t stand him. This is a BIG GROWTH BILL!”
A spokesperson for Paul’s office did not provide an immediate response to Trump’s remarks.
This exchange is part of a larger effort by Trump to rally support among Republican lawmakers for the extensive budget proposal, which stands at the forefront of his domestic policy objectives.
The budget plan, which narrowly passed the House last month, seeks to extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts and introduce new exemptions for tips, overtime, and Social Security benefits for seniors.
Additionally, the package aims to implement work requirements for Medicaid and reform the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), used by millions of low-income Americans.
The House’s approved version of the bill proposed a $4 trillion increase in the U.S. debt limit, while the current Senate iteration seeks an even greater adjustment of $5 trillion.
“The debt ceiling increase is the main thing that I object to,” Paul reiterated during his Finance Newso interview on Tuesday.
He expressed concern that setting the ceiling at $5 trillion indicates a willingness to incur that level of borrowing, effectively pushing the issue of debt into the background.
“I do want the tax cuts. I want them to be permanent. I’m offering a lot of spending cuts, but I’m willing to compromise and secure as much as I can,” he added.
“I’m just not going to take responsibility for the debt,” Paul asserted.
The bill is navigating its way through Congress via the reconciliation process, allowing the Republican-controlled Senate, which holds a 53-47 majority, to bypass the standard 60-vote threshold and move forward without Democratic backing.
However, this strategy means the GOP can only afford to lose three votes among its members.
Paul mentioned on Sunday that he believes there are four Republicans currently opposed to the bill, but indicated that he would support it if the debt ceiling increase were removed from the legislation.
“I would be very surprised if the bill is not modified in a favorable direction,” he stated during an interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
