A trio of Kentucky Republicans is mounting a rare internal rebellion against Donald Trump’s sweeping agenda, exposing deep fractures within the GOP as the Senate nears a decisive vote.
At a Glance
- Senator Rand Paul and Rep. Thomas Massie oppose Trump’s $5 trillion “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has become an outspoken Trump critic since announcing his retirement.
- The bill narrowly passed the House 215–214, with Massie among just two GOP “no” votes.
- Paul warns the bill’s debt ceiling hike could add $4–5 trillion to the national debt.
- Trump has threatened primary challenges against dissenters, including Massie.
The Bluegrass Resistance
In a state where Donald Trump won 65% of the 2024 vote, Kentucky Republicans are staging an unlikely insurrection. Representative Thomas Massie, known for his libertarian convictions, was one of only two Republicans to oppose the $5 trillion spending package when it passed the House by a single vote. As reported by the Kentucky Lantern, Massie cited ballooning debt and constitutional overreach as primary concerns.
Senator Rand Paul echoed those fears, warning in an interview with CBS News that the bill could add up to $5 trillion in new debt, primarily due to its embedded debt ceiling hike. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell — freed from reelection pressures after announcing his retirement — has taken an unusually critical stance against Trump’s legislative blitz, according to The Washington Post.
Watch a report: Trump’s ‘big, beautiful’ budget bill faces possible gridlock in Senate.
Trump’s Counterattack
Trump has responded with characteristic fury. At a recent rally, he warned that Rand Paul’s opposition “plays into the hands of the Democrats” and would risk default and tax hikes. The New York Post confirmed Trump’s threat to back a primary challenger against Paul if the senator continues to resist.
The pressure campaign extended to Massie, with Trump publicly criticizing the Kentucky congressman for what he called “grandstanding” and “disloyalty.” Despite that, Massie has remained defiant, insisting the bill “does violence to the Constitution” — a position he has maintained in conversations with the Kentucky Lantern.
Senate Showdown
The bill’s path in the Senate is uncertain. With Republicans holding a narrow majority, only three GOP defections could scuttle its passage. Moderate senators have raised alarms about deep Medicaid cuts and rollbacks of renewable energy tax credits. According to The Washington Post, internal debate continues over whether to separate the debt ceiling from broader spending measures.
Paul has suggested exactly that — carving out the debt hike into a clean, standalone vote. But for now, Trump insists on an all-or-nothing approach, turning the Senate into the next battlefield in a widening war within the Republican Party.
