President Donald Trump applauded Sen. Rand Paul after the Kentucky Republican opposed an amendment targeting the Justice Department’s abandoned anti-weaponization fund, calling it an unrelated “poison pill” in an immigration enforcement package.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
President Donald Trump praised Sen. Rand Paul on Friday after the Kentucky Republican helped defeat an amendment to an immigration enforcement funding package that Paul argued would have jeopardized a straightforward bill funding ICE and Border Patrol.
The Senate this week considered an amendment to the reconciliation package that would have barred creation of the Justice Department’s abandoned “anti-weaponization fund.” Paul opposed adding the language, calling it a “poison pill” unrelated to the central purpose of the bill.
Trump shared Paul’s post on Truth Social and praised him for the move.
“Very Impressive. Proud of you!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Paul said Republicans who campaigned on Trump’s America First agenda should not join Democrats in attaching unrelated language to an immigration enforcement measure.
“There should never be a situation where any Republican who campaigned on [Trump’s] America First agenda turns around & rallies with Democrats to poison-pill a straightforward bill funding ICE & Border Patrol,” Paul wrote. “I shot down this unrelated amendment, and we got the funding passed.”
The amendment had drawn support from some Senate Republicans and Democrats who wanted to formally block any revival of the DOJ fund. Trump’s shared clip showed Paul arguing against the amendment with Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La.
Cassidy has been at odds with Trump since voting to convict him in his second impeachment trial. He later lost his primary to a Trump-backed challenger, finishing third behind Rep. Julia Letlow, R-La., and Louisiana state Treasurer John Fleming. Trump ultimately backed Letlow, and Cassidy has continued opposing Trump on several major issues.
The disputed anti-weaponization fund was tied to a Justice Department settlement ending Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax returns by contractor Charles Littlejohn, who pleaded guilty. The proposed $1.776 billion fund drew bipartisan criticism from lawmakers concerned it could be used to compensate Trump allies.
Paul argued that the immigration funding bill should remain focused on border enforcement and should not be weighed down by unrelated disputes over the fund.
The exchange marked a notable moment of agreement between Trump and Paul, who have clashed in the past over spending and foreign policy. In this instance, Trump publicly credited Paul with helping keep the ICE and Border Patrol funding package on track.
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