Rand Pauls five biggest Republican feuds
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is one of the biggest draws in the Republican Party right now. He's also one of its most polarizing figures.
That was evident once again on Tuesday when Mark Salter, a longtime aide to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), penned an op-ed lambasting the possible presidential candidate over his claim that McCain met with members of the Islamic State.
It got us to thinking: Who else has Paul clashed with in his own party? Plenty of people -- often hawkish Republicans -- over plenty of comments, often over national security and foreign policy.
Below we take a look at Paul's biggest feuds with fellow Republicans, in reverse chronological order. Did we miss any? As always, let us know in the comments section.
1. Mark Salter: We can't mention Salter without laying out the full story. The former McCain aidewrote on Real Clear Politics that Paul is "completely unsuited" for the presidency and "is either a liar or too easily captivated by the kinds of outlandish conspiracy theories that excite many of his and his fathers supporters, a cohort long overrepresented by political fringe dwellers." So, yeah. That happened. Salter's beef was Paul's insistence that McCain met with representatives of the Islamic State last year. "He [McCain] did meet with ISIS, and had his picture taken, and didnt know it was happening at the time," Paul recently told Daily Beast. The Washington Post Fact Checker gave Paul's claim four Pinocchios.
2. Rick Perry:The Texas governorwrote a July Washington Post op-ed arguing that it was "disheartening to hear fellow Republicans, such as Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.),suggest that our nation should ignore whats happening in Iraq." Three days later, Paul put up his own op-ed in Politico accusing Perry of mischaracterizing his views. "Apparently his new glasses havent altered his perception of the world, or allowed him to see it any more clearly," wrote Paul. Oh yes, he went there.
3. Peter King: The New York Republican congressman said in May that part of the reason he was considering running for president was to stop Paul and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.). King is one of the most hawkish members of Congress. It surprised no one when the libertarian-leaning Paul clashed with him.
4. Chris Christie:We could be witnessing the early stages of an epic battle between Paul and the New Jersey governor, since neither are shy about speaking their minds and both are openly considering running for president. It all started in earnest in the summer of 2013, when Christie expressed deep concerns about the skepticism Paul and other libertarian-leaning Republicans voiced about the National Security Agency's sweeping surveillance efforts. Paul swiftly offered a rebuttal on Twitter. More than a year later, the spat still hasn't been smoothed over. Asked in a recent interview withKentucky Educational Television what the first word is that comes to mind when he hears Christie's name, Paul responded "Bridges," a clear dig at the "Bridgegate" traffic scandal that rocked Christie's office.
5. John McCain:The longtime Arizona senatorlabeled Paul and a trio of other members of Congress "wacko birds" in an interview with the Huffington Post. McCain took issue with of the filibuster of now-CIA Director John O. Brennanover drones."I treat Sen. McCain with respect. I don't think I always get the same in return," Paul responded.
Sean Sullivan has covered national politics for The Washington Post since 2012.
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Rand Pauls five biggest Republican feuds
- Rand Paul COVID vaccine theories aren't helping to bridge public health divide | Opinion - Yahoo - October 15th, 2025 [October 15th, 2025]
- Rand Paul COVID vaccine theories aren't helping to bridge public health divide | Opinion - The Courier-Journal - October 15th, 2025 [October 15th, 2025]
- Press Release: Rand Paul Proposes Amendment to Terminate Federal Reserve's Assistance to Major Banks in 2026 NDAA - Quiver Quantitative - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- Republican Sen. Rand Paul Set To Cosponsor Initiative To Prevent Trump Admin From Striking Boats In The Caribbean - Latin Times - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- Press Release: Chairman Rand Paul Introduces Safeguarding Personal Information Act of 2025 - Quiver Quantitative - October 9th, 2025 [October 9th, 2025]
- Article | Rand Paul blocks Senate extension of cyber information sharing law - POLITICO Pro - October 9th, 2025 [October 9th, 2025]
- There has to be someone who 'believes debt is a problem,' says Sen. Rand Paul - Fox Business - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- Sen. Rand Paul weighs in on government shutdown, believes it will be 'short lived' - Yahoo - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- Press Release: Senator Rand Paul Releases Report on TSA's Targeting of Veterans and Lawmakers - Quiver Quantitative - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- Sen. Rand Paul: Bidens TSA Targeted Veterans, Lawmakers, Mask Critics, and Air Marshals Wife - The Daily Signal - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- Rand Paul Slams GOP Funding Bill on Fox News Warns It Will Wipe Out DOGE Cuts - Yahoo - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul appears on 'Face the Nation' on CBS - WLKY - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- Sen. Rand Paul says he would "prefer not to have troops" in Portland, but supports Trump's action - CBS News - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- Transcript: Sen. Rand Paul on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Sept. 28, 2025 - Yahoo - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- Targeted by Trump, Rep. Thomas Massie teams up with Rand Paul for district tour - Louisville Public Media - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- Trump-targeted GOP congressman Massie tours his Kentucky district with support from Sen. Rand Paul - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - September 28th, 2025 [September 28th, 2025]
- Rand Paul quips Kimmels thanks is first time Ive ever been on his program - Kentucky Lantern - September 25th, 2025 [September 25th, 2025]
- Sen. Rand Paul, Rep. Thomas Massie host forums with Northern Kentucky voters - WLWT - September 25th, 2025 [September 25th, 2025]
- He is so bad hes lost Rand Paul and Ted Cruz: Nicolle Wallace on Trumps crackdown on free speech - MSNBC News - September 25th, 2025 [September 25th, 2025]
- Rand Paul calls NKY a bastion of conservatism at Thomas Massie Rally - LINK nky - September 25th, 2025 [September 25th, 2025]
- Rep. Thomas Massie tours district with Sen. Rand Paul - Spectrum News - September 25th, 2025 [September 25th, 2025]
- Rand Paul and Ted Cruz: The FCCs phony right-wing critics - Salon.com - September 25th, 2025 [September 25th, 2025]
- Rand Paul quips Kimmels thanks is first time Ive ever been on his program - somerset-kentucky.com - September 25th, 2025 [September 25th, 2025]
- Rand Paul vows to protect free speech but says theres no right to employment - Kentucky Lantern - September 23rd, 2025 [September 23rd, 2025]
- GOPs Rand Paul Says He Will Fight FCC Meddling in Free Speech - Bloomberg - September 23rd, 2025 [September 23rd, 2025]
- Rand Paul vows to protect free speech but says theres no right to employment - The Paducah Sun - September 23rd, 2025 [September 23rd, 2025]
- New Bill: Senator Rand Paul introduces S. 2769: Safeguarding Personal Information Act of 2025 - Quiver Quantitative - September 23rd, 2025 [September 23rd, 2025]
- Sen. Rand Paul rips FCC chair Brendan Carr over Jimmy Kimmel threat: No business weighing in on this - New York Post - September 23rd, 2025 [September 23rd, 2025]
- RAND PAUL BLASTS FCC OVER KIMMEL SUSPENSION: ABSOLUTELY INAPPROPRIATE Sen. Rand Paul is torching FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. Carr appeared to pressure... - September 23rd, 2025 [September 23rd, 2025]
- Sen. Rand Paul discusses wide range of topics on NBC's 'Meet the Press' - WLKY - September 23rd, 2025 [September 23rd, 2025]
- Rand Paul's last-minute demands push key cybersecurity law to the brink - Axios - September 21st, 2025 [September 21st, 2025]
- You have your time, Bernie: Rand Paul and Sanders in Senate dustup over letting RFK-fired CDC chief answer - Yahoo - September 21st, 2025 [September 21st, 2025]
- Senator Rand Paul speaks on looming government shutdown - Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW) - September 21st, 2025 [September 21st, 2025]
- Rand Paul clashes with Bernie Sanders, former CDC director over vaccinating infants - Fox News - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS WITH GOV. JOSH SHAPIRO, SEN. RAND PAUL AND MEL ROBBINS THIS SUNDAY ON MEET THE PRESS WITH KRISTEN WELKER - NBCUniversal News... - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- You have your time, Bernie: Rand Paul and Sanders in Senate dustup over letting RFK-fired CDC chief answer - The Independent - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- Senator Rand Paul speaks on political temperature in Washington - Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW) - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- Rand Paul blocks Trumps nominee for State Department Middle East post - Washington Times - September 17th, 2025 [September 17th, 2025]
- New Bill: Senator Rand Paul introduces S. 2733: Duplication Scoring Act of 2025 - Quiver Quantitative - September 17th, 2025 [September 17th, 2025]
- Dr. Rand Paul Introduces Six Penny Plan to Balance the Federal Budget in Five Years - Senator Rand Paul (.gov) - September 17th, 2025 [September 17th, 2025]
- Sen. Rand Paul on a variety of issues affecting Kentucky and the country - Spectrum News 1 - September 13th, 2025 [September 13th, 2025]
- Fauci told email recipients to delete them after reading: Rand Paul - NewsNation - September 11th, 2025 [September 11th, 2025]
- Gerth: Rand Paul opposition to military action may show Trump fever is breaking | Opinion - The Courier-Journal - September 11th, 2025 [September 11th, 2025]
- Rand Paul Forced to Explain to JD Vance That Abitrary Killing Is Bad - The New Republic - September 11th, 2025 [September 11th, 2025]
- Rand Paul is the chair of the Senate Homeland Security Committee - Spectrum News - September 11th, 2025 [September 11th, 2025]
- Rand Paul has been serving as junior United States senator from Ky since 2011 - Spectrum News - September 11th, 2025 [September 11th, 2025]
- Rand Paul splits from GOP as US Senate votes down forcing release of Epstein files - somerset-kentucky.com - September 11th, 2025 [September 11th, 2025]
- SEN RAND PAUL: The GOP once knew how to fix the deficit now theyre losing the battle - Fox News - September 11th, 2025 [September 11th, 2025]
- The government has been misleading us for years, argues Sen. Rand Paul - Fox News - September 11th, 2025 [September 11th, 2025]
- Fauci ordered deletion of emails relevant to COVID-19 origins, Rand Paul alleges - Washington Examiner - September 11th, 2025 [September 11th, 2025]
- Rand Paul Calls Out JD 'I Don't Give A Sh*t' Vance For Bombing Stance - Yahoo News New Zealand - September 11th, 2025 [September 11th, 2025]
- Rand Paul rips JD Vance's assertion that executing cartel members is the 'best use of our military' - Fox News - September 9th, 2025 [September 9th, 2025]
- Vance post on boat strike really ticked me off, Rand Paul says - Politico - September 9th, 2025 [September 9th, 2025]
- Rand Paul clashes with JD Vance over US strike on boat leaving Venezuela - Politico - September 9th, 2025 [September 9th, 2025]
- The GOPs Elizabeth Warren: Vance happy to feud with Rand Paul - Politico - September 9th, 2025 [September 9th, 2025]
- Rand Paul speaks the truth - Forward Kentucky - September 9th, 2025 [September 9th, 2025]
- Senator Rand Paul warns tariff price increases are coming soon - LEX18 - September 6th, 2025 [September 6th, 2025]
- Former CDC official calls Sen. Rand Paul a bigoted bully in response to criticism - CNN - September 6th, 2025 [September 6th, 2025]
- Rand Paul Slams Trump For Unilateral Strike On Suspected Drug Vessel: 'Where Does It End?' - HuffPost - September 5th, 2025 [September 5th, 2025]
- Rand Paul called out after saying gay CDC officials lifestyle disqualified him from government - The Independent - September 3rd, 2025 [September 3rd, 2025]
- Homophobe Rand Paul says gay CDC official's 'lifestyle' made him unfit to be in government - Advocate.com - September 3rd, 2025 [September 3rd, 2025]
- Rand Paul called out after saying gay CDC officials lifestyle disqualified him from government - inkl - September 3rd, 2025 [September 3rd, 2025]
- Why Rand Paul says Kentucky bourbon business will continue to suffer with 'triple whammy' - The Courier-Journal - August 27th, 2025 [August 27th, 2025]
- Rand Paul will be Kentucky's next senior senator. What that means for the commonwealth - The Courier-Journal - August 27th, 2025 [August 27th, 2025]
- Rand Paul sounds alarm over Trump Admin buying 10% Intel stake | RISING - The Hill - August 26th, 2025 [August 26th, 2025]
- Article | Rand Paul disses Trumps plan for a government stake in Intel - POLITICO Pro - August 26th, 2025 [August 26th, 2025]
- Rand Paul will be Kentucky's next senior senator. What that means for the commonwealth - thegleaner.com - August 26th, 2025 [August 26th, 2025]
- Net Worth Update: Senator Rand Paul Made an Estimated $385.0K in the Stock Market Last Month - Quiver Quantitative - August 24th, 2025 [August 24th, 2025]
- Rand Paul Is Working To 'Reach A Compromise' On Hemp THC Product Laws With McConnell And House Lawmakers - Marijuana Moment - August 9th, 2025 [August 9th, 2025]
- Rand Paul warns against retaliatory tariffs: 'It's fighting words when you come after Kentucky bourbon' - Fox Business - August 7th, 2025 [August 7th, 2025]
- Rand Paul says we 'aren't going to know' the motive of Trump's would-be assassin - AOL.com - August 3rd, 2025 [August 3rd, 2025]
- Sen. Rand Paul discusses the prospect of abolishing the Federal Reserve - Fox News - August 1st, 2025 [August 1st, 2025]
- 'Absolutely insane': Rand Paul raises alarm by 'casually' suggesting Trump third term - rawstory.com - August 1st, 2025 [August 1st, 2025]
- Rand Paul lost to Trump's bill, but still came out on top for July | Opinion - The Courier-Journal - August 1st, 2025 [August 1st, 2025]
- Sen. Rand Paul on 'The Pelosi Act': Future presidents wouldn't be able to own things - Fox Business - August 1st, 2025 [August 1st, 2025]
- Sen. Rand Paul weighs in on tariffs, FEMA reform amid looming deadline - WTVQ - August 1st, 2025 [August 1st, 2025]
- Sen. Rand Paul: The market should set the interest rates - Fox News - July 30th, 2025 [July 30th, 2025]
- Rand Paul pandemic research bill breezes through Senate homeland security committee - Washington Examiner - July 30th, 2025 [July 30th, 2025]
- SEN RAND PAUL: There are $186 billion reasons why we must audit the Fed - Fox Business - July 28th, 2025 [July 28th, 2025]
- Rand Paul hints Jill Biden and Anthony Fauci could be investigated for autopen usagage - Daily Express US - July 28th, 2025 [July 28th, 2025]