Rand Paul Slams Trump’s Gaza Plan After Opposing Tariffs: ‘I Thought We Voted America First’
Screenshot via CNBC
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) slammed President Donald Trump’s plans for Gaza, accusing him of steering away from his “America first” policies.
Trump made waves on Tuesday when he declared that the United States should take over Gaza. On the same day he was meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, Trump claimed Palestinians have “no alternative” to leaving Gaza and discussed building waterfront properties in war-torn Gaza.
Paul said in a Wednesday X post that he is not on board with Trump’s plan. The Kentucky senator responded to Secretary of State Marco Rubio writing that Trump wants to “Make Gaza Beautiful Again.”
“Gaza MUST BE FREE from Hamas. As [President Trump] shared today, the United States stands ready to lead and Make Gaza Beautiful Again. Our pursuit is one of lasting peace in the region for all people,” Rubio wrote.
The Libertarian-leaning Paul argued the future of Gaza is the business of Palestinians and Israelis, not Americans.
“The pursuit for peace should be that of the Israelis and the Palestinians. I thought we voted for America First,” he wrote. “We have no business contemplating yet another occupation to doom our treasure and spill our soldiers blood.”
Trump’s Gaza talk is not the only thing Paul has opposed in the opening weeks of the new administration. He’s also been a vocal critic of Trump’s tariffs on Canada, China, and Mexico, calling it a “disaster” economic policy.
“Tariffs as an economic policy are a disaster for the consumer. I mean, higher prices, even if the tariffs are only on China, the average price that the consumer will pay is about $1,000 more,” he told Fox News.
