Trump Criticizes Rand Paul Over Debt Ceiling Standoff Jeopardizing Tax-Cut Bill
Trump fires back at Rand Paul’s debt ceiling resistance, warning it could derail his massive tax-cut bill just weeks before the U.S. hits its borrowing limit.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday sharply criticized Senator Rand Paul, calling him “crazy” for blocking a key tax and spending bill over concerns about raising the U.S. debt ceiling. The Kentucky Republican has been vocal about opposing the legislation, arguing that increasing the debt limit contradicts conservative fiscal principles and would add dangerously to the national debt.
“I’m just not for that. That’s not conservative,” Paul told CNBC, stressing his refusal to support a bill that expands borrowing authority.
Trump responded on social media, accusing Paul of lacking “practical or constructive ideas” and dismissing his stance as “crazy (losers!).” The president has been pressing Senate Republicans to approve his comprehensive tax package, which also includes raising the debt ceiling to prevent a government default.
Senate GOP Leaders Push for Debt Ceiling Raise Amid Growing Deadline Pressure
Senate Republican Leader John Thune warned that failure to raise the debt ceiling “is not an option,” highlighting the urgent deadline as the Treasury projects the government will exhaust borrowing power between August and September.
Thune acknowledged the difficulty in uniting the GOP’s 53 senators behind a single plan, especially since Democrats are unanimously expected to oppose the bill. “We have to get to 51 votes,” Thune said, indicating ongoing negotiations to secure enough support.
Debt Limit Standoff Puts Tax-Cut Bill in Jeopardy
Economists widely predict the tax legislation, as passed by the House, would increase the national debt by trillions over the next decade. However, the White House contends that the bill’s economic growth provisions will offset much of the added debt.
Inclusion of the debt ceiling raise in the tax bill is seen by Trump and Republican leaders as essential to ensuring the legislation’s passage and preventing a looming default.
Senator Paul responded by reaffirming his support for tax cuts but insisted the $5 trillion in added debt must be removed. He also indicated that several other GOP senators share his concerns, creating a potential roadblock.
Other conservative senators expressed more moderate opposition. Florida’s Rick Scott supports a balanced budget to avoid future debt increases but voted for a budget framework allowing the current raise. Wisconsin’s Ron Johnson signaled conditional support for a short-term debt limit extension if paired with significant spending cuts.
