Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Rand Paul floats possible 2028 run, pushes back on Trump-era protectionism
Fox News (Digital) ^ | March 17 | By Paul Steinhauser

Posted on 03/17/2026 1:47:09 AM PDT by RandFan

Kentucky senator says he wants to represent 'free-market wing' of Republican Party as alternative to Trump-Vance populism

Libertarian-minded Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky is leaving the door wide open to a possible 2028 White House run.

"We’ll decide after 2026," Paul said in an interview that posted this weekend.

Paul ran for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination, but dropped out after a distant fifth-place finish in Iowa's Republican caucuses. He won re-election later that year in the Senate, and was re-elected again in 2022.

The senator, who for years has been a leading voice inside the GOP for fiscal conservatism, civil liberties and a non-interventionist foreign policy for America, has lamented the declining number of Republicans embracing such an agenda in a party dominated by President Donald Trump. And he's pledged to try and bring such an agenda back.

...

Pointing to Trump and Vice President JD Vance, who is perceived as the GOP frontrunner in the race to succeed the term-limited Trump, Paul emphasized that "there needs to be a free-market wing of the Republican Party. And I want to be part of trying to ensure that still exists."

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Conspiracy
KEYWORDS: cino; closetcaserand; fino; floats; randpaulfloats; randpaulisgay; rino
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-90 next last
To: RandFan

“Rand Paul floats possible 2028 run, pushes back on Trump-era protectionism”

Americans have higher costs:
1. PPACA health insurance
2. high property taxes
3. environmental protection laws
4. a welfare system far more generous than that of China, Mexico and India

There has to be a modest percentage offset (such as Trump’s 10% base tariff) to make the marketplace fair to ordinary Americans.


21 posted on 03/17/2026 3:51:13 AM PDT by Brian Griffin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Brian Griffin

I hope I am still around in 2028 to vote against Dr. Paul.


22 posted on 03/17/2026 4:01:50 AM PDT by Theodore R. ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: irishjuggler
Other possibilities... Desantis? Rubio? Don Jr?

I expect Pat Paulson to knock Rand Paul out of contention before the primary.

23 posted on 03/17/2026 4:02:23 AM PDT by paulcissa (The left hates you and wants you dead.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: RandFan

There was a circuit board plant in Virginia.

Management said it was no longer economically viable.

Workers asked if they could take a pay cut and stay employed.

They were told that even if they worked for free that the plant couldn’t make it.


24 posted on 03/17/2026 4:02:42 AM PDT by Brian Griffin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RandFan

Forget it.


25 posted on 03/17/2026 4:05:20 AM PDT by sauropod
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Brian Griffin

My word. They could pivot to AI chips? Seem to be all the rage.


26 posted on 03/17/2026 4:11:36 AM PDT by RandFan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: RandFan

Will Rand cry over those poor fentanyl boat martyrs on the debate stage?


27 posted on 03/17/2026 4:12:56 AM PDT by montag813
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RandFan
Rand Paul floats possible 2028 run

Media whore? Yes. Serious contender, no.

28 posted on 03/17/2026 4:26:24 AM PDT by tlozo (“We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth,” Trump)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RandFan

“”there needs to be a free-market wing of the Republican Party”

The reality is that the Chinese are healthier than Americans.

The reality is that the Mexicans are healthier and younger than Americans.

They have lower health care costs than Americans.

Health insurance is generally provided by employers in the American system.

To try to level the ‘playing field’ with respect to health care would require federal product tax to fund health care. That would open up a huge can of ‘worms’.

I’m simply not National Football League material. If I got a job with a team I’d be carried out on a stretcher before the end of the season.

“A man has to know his limitations.”

And so does a nation.


29 posted on 03/17/2026 4:26:35 AM PDT by Brian Griffin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: montag813

Exactly he looks like he on cartels payroll. Has zero chance


30 posted on 03/17/2026 4:27:59 AM PDT by datricker (Go Trump/Vance! )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: RandFan

His ego just kills me.


31 posted on 03/17/2026 4:28:09 AM PDT by wardamneagle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: irishjuggler

Deep State doesn’t have a deep bench...

But it does have a YUGE collection of dunce chairs.


32 posted on 03/17/2026 4:28:31 AM PDT by mewzilla (Swing away, Mr. President, swing away! 🇺🇸 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: RandFan

“My word. They could pivot to AI chips? Seem to be all the rage.”

The problem is circuit boards are made by chemical means.

Disposing of chemicals according to American law is costly.


33 posted on 03/17/2026 4:31:45 AM PDT by Brian Griffin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: RandFan







34 posted on 03/17/2026 4:48:40 AM PDT by Bikkuri (Whomever thought China and India were ever going to be serious allies hasn’t been paying attention..)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Semper Vigilantis

That is funny.. ;^D


35 posted on 03/17/2026 4:50:09 AM PDT by Bikkuri (Whomever thought China and India were ever going to be serious allies hasn’t been paying attention..)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: newfreep

A BRIT pushing Libertarians.. in the USA..

Hmm...

What is wrong with this picture?


36 posted on 03/17/2026 4:51:15 AM PDT by Bikkuri (Whomever thought China and India were ever going to be serious allies hasn’t been paying attention..)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: RandFan

Every senator wakes up looks in the mirror and sees the next President, sorry Rand not a chance


37 posted on 03/17/2026 4:53:23 AM PDT by blitz128
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: irishjuggler

I refuse to get all het up two and a half years in advance.


38 posted on 03/17/2026 5:00:10 AM PDT by A_perfect_lady (The greatest wealth is to live content with little. -Plato)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: All

Pushing open borders and off shoring jobs isnt the winning platform libertarians think.


39 posted on 03/17/2026 5:03:06 AM PDT by escapefromboston (Peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RandFan

He needs a good SHAMPOOING....GREASY! Ugh


40 posted on 03/17/2026 5:03:10 AM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion.....the HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-90 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson