Be it tariffs, the Epstein files, the confirmation of Markwayne Mullin as the next director for the Department of Homeland Security or the nation’s exploding debt ceiling under the “Big Beautiful Bill,” Rand Paul knows he’s been publicly critical, at times, of 45th and 47th U.S. President Donald Trump.
But make no mistake. Paul believes Trump is doing “a great job.”
During this past weekend’s Christian County Republican Party fundraiser at Casey Jones Distillery, the Kentucky senator also called Trump “the best president of his lifetime, probably even better than Reagan” — and cited their lengthy friendship, now spanning at least a decade, as strong and effective.
Paul also noted he’s been a “big fan” of the DOGE movement Trump and Elon Musk have tried to muster, and that Bobby Kennedy and the “Make America Healthy Again” movement have also garnered his interest and support.
Paul said the two recent attempts of Trump impeachment also drew his ire, mainly because he felt like they were simply for “political differences,” and not for malfeasance.
Headlines, however, have painted Paul as someone not willing to “suck up” or “fall in line” with Trump, two things he reiterated he “wouldn’t do.”
Paul said he took umbrage with the “Big Beautiful Bill” when it included more than $400 billion in new spending created at the request of Senator Lindsey Graham, South Carolina, as well as an additional $5 trillion to the debt ceiling — as U.S. debt soars past $36 trillion.
Trump, Paul said, “isn’t always right, does need some pushback, and does need some people saying things” — but, to his credit, does remain “direct” and “to the point.”
Recently, Paul said he voted to remove the nation’s refugee welfare program — noting that refugees need “to work just like everybody else, or perhaps find a sponsor,” but clarified that America should continue offering refuge and asylum opportunities.
Paul said he couldn’t support Mullin as director for DHS because the country “doesn’t need people in office who think violence is either funny, fun or to be encouraged.”
The Christian County Republican Party is also having another candidate forum at 6 PM Thursday in the Hopkinsville City Council chambers at the Municipal Building on 715 South Virginia Street. This will include discussions for Sheriff, PVA, Magistrate District 3, Magistrate District 5, Magistrate District 7 and Magistrate District 8.
A City of Hopkinsville forum will be held April 1.
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