Rand Paul on why he’s not more enthusiastic about Trump

Sen. Ran Paul (R-Ky.) weighed in Tuesday on why he is not more enthusiastic about supporting former President Trump in the upcoming election.

Paul in remarks on CNBC made it clear that her prefers Trump to a great degree over Vice President Harris, the Democratic nominee for president.

But he said he isn’t whole-heartedly enthusiastic about a second Trump term because of how Trump handled the deficit while in office.

“As far as my enthusiasm, you know, I’m a deficit hawk. The Trump administration added 8 trillion. The Biden administration is going to add 8 trillion. This year we’re going to add 2 trillion,” Paul said.

Paul noted that when Trump was leaving office, he was advocating for $2,500 COVID-19 pandemic stimulus checks.

“I’m not for that,” Paul said. “I was against the lockdowns and I want to hear stronger language in that sense.”

Paul, as ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, held a hearing focused on origins of the COVID-19 virus and “high-risk biological research.” He’s blasted people who are in opposition to the “lab leak” theory.

He said Tuesday that the wants a promise from Trump that he will able allowed to continue his investigation and legislation would be signed that will regulate research.

Paul noted that he is still supportive of Trump winning the election.

“I think there’s no question that Donald Trump is better than Kamala Harris,” he said.

Paul slammed Harris as a socialist and said her unrealized gains tax plan is “not only moronic, it’s so destructive that it should be disqualified.”