Sen. Rand Paul Opposes Trump Debt Ceiling Bill Amid GOP Rift

Senator Rand Paul has expressed conditional support for President Donald Trump's proposed "Big, Beautiful Bill," emphasizing that he would back it only if the debt ceiling increase is removed, citing concerns about the bill's fiscal impact and debt explosion. Paul and a few other Republican senators are holding out for modifications, particularly to ensure permanent tax cuts without significantly raising the national debt. President Trump has publicly criticized Paul for opposing the bill, warning that such opposition would benefit Democrats and lead to a historic default on U.S. debt, while urging that the economic growth and cost-cutting measures in the bill will resolve issues. The bill, which narrowly passed the House, includes tax cuts, stricter Medicaid access, changes to SNAP, and no taxes on overtime or tips, but faces skepticism from some Republicans and criticism from Democrats over Medicaid reforms. This political tension has also influenced financial markets, with stock indices and cryptocurrencies experiencing volatility as investors react to the uncertainty surrounding the bill's passage and potential impacts on fiscal policy. Senate Republicans are expected to review the bill with potential changes that could challenge House leadership, as the Senate can only afford a few dissenting votes for the bill to pass.