Kentucky Senator Rand Paul is no stranger to wading into controversial political waters.
He’s been an advocate for libertarian ideas for years now in the Senate. He doesn’t fit in the Republican establishment, often at odds with his fellow Kentucky Republican Senator, Mitch McConnell.
Paul recently met with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a move fueling rumors of a possible endorsement or perhaps even joining the ticket. While both possibilities seem far-fetched, Paul is difficult to stuff in a single political box.
Paul has been quiet as of late surrounding the 2024 GOP primary and has yet to formally make a statement concerning his support until now.
Earlier this morning, Paul made his preferences quite clear. Sort of:
I love Senator Rand Paul even more!!!
Thank you, Senator Rand Paul!!!?? pic.twitter.com/lC6cEhDbcm
— Joshua Michael Mlinek?? (@Joshua_M_Mlinek) January 12, 2024
While Paul’s list of praise was heaped on Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, and even Robert F. Kennedy Jr, Paul says he cannot support Nikki Haley for president under any circumstances. This isn’t all that surprising given her propensity for bucking grassroots trends nationally and siding with the GOP establishment on issue after issue.
One of Paul’s biggest concerns is surrounding Haley’s seeming desire for endless wars around the world. That’s not to say Haley doesn’t want to fight wars and win, but she wants to fight them everywhere. After more than a decade in Iraq and Afghanistan, the American people seem less on the side of foreign entanglements without clearly defined objectives and more averse to fighting territorial disputes on behalf of other countries.
Domestically, Paul also criticizes Haley’s recent statement that every American posting on social media should be required to use their real name and provide proof of identification. The statement was perhaps one of Haley’s worst about plays right into the hands of the authoritarian surveillance state.
So, with that, the #NeverNikki movement has been born.
While the establishment consolidates around Haley, there is a backlash brewing among the grassroots which, according to poll after poll, is on the side of Donald Trump.
All eyes will be on Iowa Monday night for caucus results coming in hot.
