In an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) walked back his criticisms of President Trump’s 2025 budget proposal, which he had previously blasted as “immoral” and fiscally irresponsible.
For context, Rand has been walking back his initial stance, indicating that he may return to sanity and get nothing from President Trump. Rand suggests that he’s interested in negotiations to secure his backing for the vital bill.
Starting the interaction, the journalist asked Rand to explain his opinions on Trump’s budget. She noted, “You have been one of the most outspoken Republican critics of President Trump’s tax and spend Bill, what He has called the big, beautiful bill. You have said it raises the debt ceiling by far too much.”
Continuing her question, she quoted the president and asked Rand directly about his position on the big beautiful bill. She noted, “Trump called you ‘The toughest vote in the history of the US Senate.’ Senator, let me ask you: as of today, are you a ‘yes’ on this bill or a ‘no’?
Reacting to Trump’s remarks, Rand said, “I take that as a compliment, and I talked to the President last evening after the parade, and we’re trying to get to a better place in our conversations, and I’ve let him know that I’m not an absolute no. I can be a yes. I like the tax cuts.”
Explaining his position, the Republican said, “I actually agree with Art Laffer and supply siders that, a lot of times, when we cut rates, we actually get more revenue. So I don’t have as much trouble with the tax cuts. I think there should be more spending cuts, but if they want my vote, they’ll have to negotiate, because they don’t want to vote to raise the debt ceiling, $5 trillion, you know.”
Congress is awful with money, and so you should give them a more restricted credit line, not an expansive one. Yes, the debt ceiling has to go up, but what I’ve said is it ought to go up three months at a time, and then we should have a renewed debate about the debt.
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Concluding his remarks, he stated, “We shouldn’t put it up 5 trillion and wait two years, go through another election cycle and be almost towards the end of the Trump administration, and say, Oh, whoops, we have added a bunch of debt. We should have done better. I think we should keep talking about it.”
Explaining his current position, the controversial senator said, “I’m open to supporting the ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’—but not if it approves a $5 trillion debt ceiling hike. I helped write the Trump tax cuts and want them extended. But Congress needs incremental increases that rein in spending and force a reckoning with the uniparty’s addiction to debt.”
Watch the clip:
Upset by Rands’ initial betrayal, one conservative voice on X said, “The amazing thing about Trump is that he forces everyone to go mask off. I’ve admired Rand Paul and Thomas Massie for 10+ years, watched dozens of interviews (sometimes hour-long podcasts), never suspected they were in favor of illegal migrants to make GDP line go up.”
Featured image from embedded video