Sen. Rand Paul said Sunday he could support President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” — but only if the debt ceiling is separated out. Appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” the Kentucky Republican stressed he isn’t a hard no. “I can be a yes,” he told host Kristen Welker.
Paul said he spoke to Trump after the parade and explained his concerns. “I like the tax cuts. I actually agree with Art Laffer and the supply siders that a lot of times we cut rates,” he said. “We actually get more revenue, so I don’t have as much trouble with the tax cuts.”
His sticking point? The $5 trillion debt ceiling hike buried in the bill. “Congress is awful with money,” Paul said. “You should give them a more restricted credit line, not an expansive one.”
Trump’s bill narrowly passed the House on May 22 by just one vote. Republican Reps. Thomas Massie and Warren Davidson joined Democrats in voting against it. Now the bill faces fresh resistance in the Senate.
GOP senators have voiced concerns about multiple items in the package — from Medicaid reforms to Biden-era green subsidies. But Paul is focused squarely on the debt. “Yes, the debt ceiling has to go up,” he said, “but it ought to go up three months at a time.”
He warned against another two-year freeze on debate. “We shouldn’t put it up $5 trillion and wait two years, go through another election cycle and say, ‘Oh, whoops, we have added a bunch of debt,’” Paul said. “We should keep talking about it.”
Pressed on what it would take for a yes vote, Paul replied, “Separate out the debt ceiling and have a separate vote on it.” He also said he’s been targeted for not falling in line. “They’ve been sending their attack dogs after me, and that’s not a great persuasion technique,” he added.
Paul insisted he’s still open to working with Trump — if there’s a serious negotiation. “I will negotiate if they come to me, but they have to be willing to negotiate on the debt ceiling because I’m conservative,” he said. “I’m not going to no longer be conservative just because the president wants me to vote for something.”
He also took aim at Republicans during a May 25 Fox News interview, accusing them of using the “same playbook” as Democrats. But House Speaker Mike Johnson pushed back, calling the debt ceiling hike “necessary” to move the bill forward.
With a July 4 deadline looming, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he still sees a “workable path” to get the votes. But he can only afford to lose three GOP senators. Any more, and the bill stalls before reaching Trump’s desk.