President Donald Trump publicly attacked Senator Rand Paul for opposing his $5 trillion spending bill, escalating tensions within the Republican Party.
At a Glance
- Trump criticized Paul on social media, calling his ideas “actually crazy”
- Paul opposes the bill’s $5 trillion debt ceiling increase, citing fiscal concerns
- The bill includes tax cuts and spending reductions but faces GOP resistance
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune aims to pass the bill by July 4
- Democrats and some Republicans worry about potential Medicaid cuts
Internal GOP Struggles
President Trump’s proposed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” seeks to extend tax cuts from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act while raising the federal debt ceiling by $5 trillion. While the bill also outlines significant future spending cuts, Senator Rand Paul has called the plan fiscally reckless, arguing that it would create a $2.2 trillion deficit this year.
Paul has demanded that the bill be split into separate votes, opposing the idea of bundling tax relief with what he views as an unsustainable debt increase. In response, Trump slammed Paul as someone who “votes no on everything” and is “actually crazy,” accusing him of siding with Democrats and putting Republican tax relief at risk.
Several GOP senators, including Ron Johnson and Rick Scott, have echoed Paul’s reservations. Scott publicly called for deeper budget cuts, stating the country needs “more sanity in our fiscal approach.”
Watch a report: Rand Paul sounds alarm on Trump’s tax bill.
Legislative Challenges Ahead
With the Senate narrowly divided, Majority Leader John Thune is under pressure to hold the Republican coalition together. He has set a goal of passing the bill by July 4, but losing more than three GOP votes could sink the legislation.
The bill’s proposed cuts to Medicaid have provoked backlash. Senator Josh Hawley raised alarms over potential impacts on healthcare, prompting Trump to promise that benefits would remain intact, though the bill’s language remains ambiguous.
Paul has stated that he will not back the package in its current form and suggested that removing the debt ceiling provision could allow for a more bipartisan compromise. As internal disagreements deepen, the political fallout could shape not only the fate of Trump’s bill but the unity of the GOP heading into the 2026 midterms.
