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Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) was put on the spot, Sunday, about being on the receiving end of a cutting barb from President Donald Trump.

Appearing on NBC’s Meet the Press, Paul was confronted by Kristen Welker about a Friday night Truth Social post in which Trump delivered a pointed shot to the Kentucky senator.

“[Trump] said, ‘Whatever happened to Senator Rand Paul? He was never great, but he went really bad. I got him elected twice in the great commonwealth of Kentucky, but he just never votes positively for the Republican Party. He’s a nasty little guy.'” Welker said — reading directly from the Truth Social post. “Why do you think President Trump is targeting you, Senator?”

Paul smirked at the question, and tried to downplay the president’s comments.

“I think the problem is this — is that in Washington, what I represent some people describe as unusual,” Paul said. “And the president describes it as weird that I’m for less debt and balanced budget. But when I come home to Kentucky or when I travel the United States, people come up to me and say, ‘Stick to your guns. You’re the only voice up there, Republican or Democrat, who’s still talking about the debt and still talking about balanced budgets.’ But I don’t take it too seriously.

“Look, I’ve known the president for

over a decade. I’ve played golf with him many, many times. I enjoy his company. I was one of his biggest defenders on impeachment and would do so again. I think he’s one of the best presidents, if not the best president of my lifetime. But it doesn’t mean I will sit quietly and say, ‘Oh well, whatever you want to do.’ I was elected to have a voice, and so I continue to be a voice, like on the bombing of the Venezuelan boats. I think that’s inappropriate. War with Venezuela without Congress’s opinion or Congress’s weighing in and authorization is inappropriate. The tariffs are bad for the economy. But it doesn’t mean I dislike Donald Trump. So he gets mad at me sometimes, but I’m still one of he’s best supporters if he’s willing to have it.”

Indeed Paul went further on his criticism of the Trump-authorized military strikes on suspected drug boats in Venezuela

“Do you believe that these strikes against these suspected drug boats are legal?” Welker asked.

“No, they go against all of our tradition,” Paul said. “When you kill someone, you should know — if you’re not at war, not in a declared war — you really need to know someone’s name at least. You have to accuse them of something. You have

to present evidence. So all of these people have been blown up without us knowing their name, without any evidence of a crime.”

Watch above, via NBC.

Tags: Donald Trump, Meet the Press, NBC, Rand Paul