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By Shane Croucher
Senior Editor
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President Donald Trump said Senator Rand Paul remains invited to the White House picnic, after the Kentucky Republican said he and his family had been disinvited over his opposition to the "Great Big Beautiful Bill."
"Of course Senator Rand Paul and his beautiful wife and family are invited to the BIG White House Party tonight," Trump posted to Truth Social on Thursday morning.
"He's the toughest vote in the history of the U.S. Senate, but why wouldn't he be?
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"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. It will help to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!
"I look forward to seeing Rand. The Party will be Great!"
Why It Matters
Paul opposes the bill, the tax-cutting centerpiece of Trump's domestic agenda, because of its multitrillion-dollar addition to the federal debt. Paul is a libertarian who has long argued that America's budget deficit is not sustainable and must be closed.
The wide-ranging bill narrowly passed the House after weeks of Republican debates and changes, but it faces a similar struggle in the Senate as Paul and others scrutinize it over debt, cuts to Medicaid and other issues.
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What To Know
Paul had told reporters on Wednesday that his invitation to the White House picnic was rescinded, accusing the Trump administration of engaging in "petty vindictiveness" because of his opposition to Trump's bill.
"And so how do they choose to respond? They are afraid of what I'm saying so they think they're going to punish me. I can't go to the picnic, as if somehow that's going to make me more conciliatory," Paul said.
"So it's silly in a way, but it's also just really sad that this is what it's come to. But petty vindictiveness like this, I don't know, it makes you wonder about the quality of people you're dealing with."
He also accused the White House of "declaring war on my family" over the issue, and said it made him lose a lot of the respect he had for Trump.
What People Are Saying
Senator Rand Paul, X, formerly Twitter: "DC has learned nothing. The uniparty already owns the $2.2 trillion deficit from continuing Biden's spending. Now they want to add $5 trillion more by raising the debt ceiling—with no strings attached. I'm not blocking the bill. I asked for a simple fix. If they refuse to negotiate, they own it all."
What Happens Next
Trump has given Congress a deadline of July 4 to get the bill to his desk, but a number of Senate Republicans have said they don't believe it's a realistic deadline.
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