Kentucky Senator Rand Paul (R) accused President Trump of revoking his invite to the White House' annual picnic, calling the move "petty" and vindictive - although Paul was in fact included.
Paul has been a thorn in Trump's side lately, targeting the "Big, Beautiful Bill" over concerns with deficit spending. The Kentucky senator has called for the funding on immigration enforcement - Trump's signature agenda item - to be slashed by $75 billion.
The libertarian senator, known for his contrarian streak, said he "lost respect" for Trump and accused him of being "petty."
“I like Donald Trump, but when they want to act this way, it’s where they begin to lose a lot of America who just wonders, ‘Why does everything have to descend to this level?’” Paul added.
The exchange marks a new low in the relationship between Trump and Paul, who notably opposed Trump's emergency declaration for his border wall in his first term, with Paul citing small government principles.
“The level of immaturity is beyond words,” Paul told CNN. “It’s just incredibly petty... I’m arguing from a true belief and worry that our country is mired in debt and getting worse. And they choose to react by uninviting my grandson to the picnic. I don’t know. I just think it really makes me lose a lot of respect I once had for Donald Trump.”
The senator suggested the invite might have been revoked without Trump's knowledge, pointing to a "paid influencer campaign" involving immigration hawk Stephen Miller, who has been one of the most vocal defenders of Trump's bill, principally because of its massive hike in immigration spending. Paul's main objection to the bill is its increase in the debt ceiling, although he has raised broader criticisms.
"We can cut the proposed border funding in half, from $150 billion to $75 billion, and still secure our border and protect the American people," he wrote on X this week.
Trump can only afford a few defections on the Big, Beautiful Bill, which narrowly passed the House in May and is expected to face more changes in the Senate.
The president has slammed Paul's opposition to the bill, calling the senator "crazy" and an obstructionist who "never has any practical or constructive ideas."
In a Truth Social post, Trump denied that Paul was uninvited, saying "of course" Paul and his "beautiful wife" were included. Trump said it would not make sense to exclude Paul, since Trump is still trying to win his vote.
“He’s the toughest vote in the history of the U.S. Senate, but why wouldn’t he be? Besides, it gives me more time to get his Vote on the Great, Big, Beautiful Bill, one of the greatest and most important pieces of legislation ever put before our Senators & Congressmen/women,” Trump said.
Another Republican critic of Trump, Rep. Thomas Massie (KY) - who Trump has called a "grandstander" - also said he was not invited to the lunch.
