President Trump can’t believe it. This is the last thing he needed to happen at this point in his presidency.
And a leading Senate Republican has turned their back on Trump in a wild turn of events.
Rand Paul Stands Firm Against Massive Debt Ceiling Hike in One Big Beautiful Bill Act
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., remains steadfast in his opposition to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, citing its staggering $5 trillion debt ceiling increase as a direct contradiction to conservative principles. Despite engaging in talks with President Donald Trump, Paul’s concerns about the bill’s fiscal implications have not wavered, setting the stage for a contentious debate in Congress.
A Record-Breaking Debt Ceiling Increase
Paul emphasized the unprecedented scale of the proposed debt ceiling hike, which would be the largest in U.S. history. Speaking to reporters on Monday, he warned that the increase would inevitably lead to meeting that ceiling, delaying critical discussions on fiscal responsibility.
“We have never raised the debt ceiling without actually meeting that target,” Paul said. “So you can say it doesn’t directly add to the debt, but if you increase the ceiling $5 trillion, you’ll meet that. And what it does is it puts it off the back-burner. And then we won’t discuss it for a year or two.” Paul labeled the move as a “terrible idea,” arguing that it sidesteps the urgent need to address the nation’s growing debt.
Talks with Trump: A One-Sided Conversation
In a “lengthy discussion” with Trump, Paul aired his reservations about the bill, particularly the inclusion of the debt ceiling increase. However, he noted that Trump dominated the conversation, leaving little room for Paul to sway the president’s stance.
“I’ve told him I can’t support the bill if they’re together,” Paul stated. “If they were to separate out and take the debt ceiling off that I very much could consider the rest of the bill.” Paul’s willingness to consider the bill’s other components hinges on decoupling the debt ceiling provision, a move he believes would align more closely with fiscal restraint.
A Clash with Conservative Values
Paul pointed to recent congressional actions as evidence of misplaced priorities. He criticized Republicans for endorsing spending levels established under the previous administration, which he dubbed “Biden-GOP spending levels.”
“During the campaign, Republicans said they were against Bidennomics and Bidenflation and Biden spending. When March, we renewed the Biden’s spending levels,” he said. “So the spending levels we live under now are Biden-GOP spending levels. They’ve all come into agreement.”
With the fiscal year-end approaching in September, Paul projected a daunting $2.2 trillion deficit, a figure he warned would likely persist into the following year. “They’re borrowing 5 trillion. That means they’re anticipating the following year being over 2 trillion as well. So it’s just not a conservative thing to do,” Paul said.
Trump’s Warning and the Political Divide
Recently, Trump took to Truth Social to caution Paul against opposing the bill, framing a vote against it as aligning with Democratic interests:
“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,” Trump wrote. “Rand will be playing right into the hands of the Democrats, and the GREAT people of Kentucky will never forgive him! The GROWTH we are experiencing, plus some cost-cutting later on, will solve ALL problems. America will be greater than ever before!”
What’s Next for the Bill?
As the Senate prepares to review the One Big Beautiful Bill Act next week, Republicans are considering amendments that could complicate negotiations with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. The proposed changes may test the bill’s viability, especially as Paul’s stance highlights deep divisions within the party over fiscal policy.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
