Senator Rand Paul just dropped a political bombshell that’s got the conservative world buzzing.
According to The Hill, on a recent Sunday broadcast, the Kentucky Republican made it crystal clear he’s not throwing his support behind Vice President JD Vance as a potential presidential contender in 2028, citing deep policy divides within the GOP.
Appearing on ABC News’s “This Week,” Paul didn’t mince words when host Jonathan Karl pressed him on the matter.
When directly asked if Vance represents the free-market conservative wing Paul champions, the senator’s response was a blunt “No.”
Paul’s beef isn’t personal—it’s all about policy, particularly the Trump administration’s approach to tariffs and trade. He’s long been a vocal critic of sweeping tariffs, arguing they clash with the bedrock conservative principle of keeping taxes low.
“But now all these pro-tariff protectionists, they love taxes. And so they tax, tax, tax, and then they brag about all the revenue coming in,” Paul stated on “This Week.”
Let’s unpack that zinger—Paul is calling out what he sees as a betrayal of fiscal conservatism, where revenue-hungry policies masquerade as GOP values.
He’s not wrong to question this shift; tariffs might protect some industries, but they often hit consumers with higher prices, which hardly screams “small government.”
Paul also made a passionate plea for the soul of the Republican Party during the interview.
“I think there needs to be representatives in the Republican Party who still believe international trade is good, who still believe in free market capitalism, who still believe in low taxes,” he declared on “This Week.”
Here’s the rub—Paul is waving the flag for traditional conservatism while many in the party seem to be marching to a different drum, one that’s more protectionist than libertarian.
Beyond trade, Paul pointed out his consistent opposition to domestic policies under Trump that ballooned the national debt, even voting against key legislation for that reason.
He lamented how few GOP voices join him in publicly challenging these fiscal missteps, despite many paying lip service to smaller government.
It’s a fair critique—how can conservatives claim to hate deficits while cheering policies that pile on more red ink?