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Rand Paul defrosts his relationship with Trump
Semafor ^ | June 16 | Burgess Everett

Posted on 06/16/2026 6:11:31 AM PDT by RandFan

Rand Paul and President Donald Trump are looking far more aligned lately — almost like friends.

The Kentucky Republican senator spent much of Trump’s second term at odds with the president on major issues, from last year’s tax cuts to Trump’s sweeping tariffs to the war in Iran, even opposing Markwayne Mullin’s confirmation as Homeland Security secretary. That distance got Paul labeled a “sick wacko” by the loyalty-conscious Trump, who initially excluded him from last year’s White House picnic.

But in recent weeks, Paul spearheaded a $70 billion immigration enforcement funding bill, drawing praise from Trump and an invitation to the White House signing ceremony. He’s giving the president backup on voter ID and ending birthright citizenship.

Paul is also providing an encouraging counterweight to more hawkish colleagues who warn Trump not to negotiate with Iran. And his picnic invitation caused no kerfuffle this year. The libertarian-minded senator’s pinned X post is praise from the president: “He knows what’s important.”

Republicans on Capitol Hill are taking notice of the mutual thaw. It’s not lost on them that Paul’s closest ally in Congress, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., was just taken out by Trump in a primary. Senate Republicans see Paul as more keenly aware of his standing inside the party than Massie, and he is acting accordingly.

Paul said it’s been natural to support Trump in recent weeks: “I just keep supporting the things I’ve always supported. I’m always for peace versus war. On the border, I think you can’t have open borders,” he said in an interview.

“I just look at things one issue at a time, and I try to be consistently a defender of the Constitution,” he added. “I don’t think I’ll change from that.”

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


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Conspiracy
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To: RandFan

Rand saw what happened to his KY Buddy, Massie.
And Rand’s survival instinct kicked in.


21 posted on 06/16/2026 8:30:59 AM PDT by tennmountainman ( (“Less propaganda would be appreciated.” JimRobr 12-2-2023 DITT)
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To: captmar-vell

Rand Paul used to be a strong voice against FRAUD WASTE ABUSE in government.

Trump is in a big, but uncovered by the MSM, fight with the bureaucracy/SWAMP. Rand Paul and all Americans need to side with Trump/Vance in that fight in the SWAMP.


22 posted on 06/16/2026 8:54:01 AM PDT by spintreebob
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To: Skwor
i love this meme


23 posted on 06/16/2026 9:04:48 AM PDT by wafflehouse ("there was a third possibility that we hadn't even counted upon" -Alice's Restaurant Massacree)
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To: Wallace T.

Yes, I remember.
Even here in NH, where we have an open primary he did not really resonate.
Here in NH there are people that call themselves Independents, but they love to vote in the Republican primary. Where we have same day registration.
Then after voting they change back to Independent.

I am in the Republican Committee in my little town. We paid to send a blast text message to EVERYONE that had voted in the previous Republican Primary in our town.
It freaked out a bunch of Liberal women who all complained about it on the local Facebook page.
I asked them, DID you vote in the last Republican Primary?

Of course, NONE of them would admit it. It was fun.


24 posted on 06/16/2026 9:48:49 AM PDT by woodbutcher1963
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To: RandFan

‘Ol Ev Dirksen (Sen.-Il) once said,” When I feel the heat, I see the light.”


25 posted on 06/16/2026 11:26:41 AM PDT by donozark (Trump isn't a fascist. America's trains still do not run on time.)
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To: spintreebob

Not long ago I heard Rand Paul state that he was offered a tour of Fort Knox but that he was ‘busy’ that day. Wait. . . Huh? He had an appointment at the local hair salon for a Perm? Or something more important hopefully.

From that moment on I knew this was not a person to be trusted.

So now he is now squirming in his soft cushy Senate chair knowing that he very likely needs President Trumps endorsement if he wants to continue sitting there with whatever it is he is doing and for whomever he is doing it for.


26 posted on 06/16/2026 12:01:23 PM PDT by captmar-vell
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To: DIRTYSECRET

Bingo


27 posted on 06/16/2026 12:02:38 PM PDT by Fledermaus ("It turns out all we really needed was a new President!")
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To: RandFan

What’s he needing now?


28 posted on 06/16/2026 5:22:30 PM PDT by If You Want It Fixed - Fix It
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