As Congress races to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) is once again standing firm against what he sees as a betrayal of core Republican values.
Paul appears to be emerging as one of the last fiscal conservatives in Washington as he raises concerns over America’s spiraling national debt.
The Republican from Kentucky told reporters this week that he cannot support the bill in its current form, primarily because it includes a staggering $5 trillion increase in the national debt ceiling — the largest single jump in U.S. history.
“If you increase the ceiling [by] $5 trillion, you’ll meet that,” Paul warned.
“We won’t discuss it for a year or two, and that’s exactly the point.
“This is a terrible idea.”
Paul has been engaging in what he described as a “lengthy discussion” with President Trump about his objections.
However, Paul said Trump did most of the talking.
The senator said Trump wasn’t swayed by his argument to separate the debt ceiling hike from the rest of the bill.
“I told him I can’t support the bill if they’re together,” Paul said.
“If they were to separate out and take the debt ceiling off, I could consider the rest of it.”
Paul blasted his own party for what he described as embracing “Biden-GOP spending levels.”
Though Republicans campaigned against Bidenomics, Paul pointed out that when push came to shove, they renewed Biden’s spending in March.
He argues that the move undermines any pretense of fiscal discipline.
“At the end of September, the deficit will be $2.2 trillion,” Paul said.
“They’re borrowing $5 trillion — that means they’re expecting over $2 trillion more next year too.
“That’s just not conservative.”
This resistance puts Paul directly at odds with President Trump.
Trump warned over the weekend that a “no” vote from Paul would be “playing into the hands of the Democrats.”
The president even suggested it could lead to a historic default on U.S. debt and slammed Paul on Truth Social.
“If Senator Rand Paul votes against our Great, Big, Beautiful Bill, he is voting for, along with the Radical Left Democrats, a 68% Tax Increase and, perhaps even more importantly, a first-time ever default on U.S. Debt,” he wrote.
“Rand will be playing right into the hands of the Democrats, and the GREAT people of Kentucky will never forgive him!”
Trump insists that economic growth, paired with future cost-cutting, will eventually offset the new debt and spending increases.
“The GROWTH we are experiencing, plus some cost-cutting later on, will solve ALL problems,” Trump added.
“America will be greater than ever before!”
But Paul remains unconvinced, signaling that growth alone cannot justify fiscal irresponsibility.
Senate Republicans are expected to review the bill next week.
Some are pushing for amendments, though any changes could pose a challenge for House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).
Johnson is attempting to maintain unity within the GOP to prevent the party from becoming fractured.
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