Trump Endorses Rand Paul for Re-Election, Calls Him a ‘True Champion’

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Capitol Hill in Washington on Dec. 16, 2020. Greg Nash-Pool/Getty Images

Former President Donald Trump has endorsed Sen. Rand Paul for re-election, expressing his belief that the Kentucky senator will continue to carry out Trump’s America First vision.

“Rand Paul has done a fantastic job for our Country, and for the incredible people of Kentucky. He fights against the Swamp in Washington, the Radical Left Liberals, and especially the destructive RINOS, of which there are far too many, in Congress,” Trump said in a statement sent by released by his political action committee, Save America 45.

The former president underscored several issues Paul has taken a stand for that Trump believes benefit the country, including advocating for fiscal responsibility, defending the Second Amendment, and supporting the military and veterans.

“I am proud to be working with Rand in our battle to Make America Great Again. He has my Complete and Total Endorsement for another term in the U.S. Senate. The Commonwealth of Kentucky has a true champion in Rand Paul,” Trump added.

Paul’s office did not immediately respond to The Epoch Times’ request for comment on the statement. He has yet to formally announce a run for Senate in 2022 but has previously indicated that he will run again.

The pair repeatedly clashed when they were both vying for the GOP’s presidential nomination in 2016. But during Trump’s presidency, the Kentucky senator was seen as one of the strongest voices supporting Trump’s policies.

In January, Paul led an effort to counter the Democrats’ failed attempt to impeach the former president for a second time. All but five senators voted in support of Paul’s motion to declare that it would be unconstitutional to hold an impeachment trial for a former president. The Senate ultimately acquitted Trump of a charge of incitement of insurrection.

Paul said during the 2020 Republican National Convention that he and Trump “don’t always agree” but their “occasional policy differences are far outweighed by our significant agreements.” He extolled Trump’s accomplishments during his presidency and said he was “proud” of Trump’s job.

“President Donald Trump gets things done,” Paul said at the time. “I brought President Trump an idea for better, cheaper health insurance called Association Health Plans. Donald Trump overturned years of red tape and bureaucrats and made it happen. While others talked about criminal justice reform, President Trump signed the First Step Act, the first real reform in a generation, and one that sought to undo the harm that others, like Joe Biden, have done.”

“I’m supporting President Trump because he believes as I do that a strong America cannot fight endless wars,” he also said.

Paul was first elected in the senate in 2010. In 2016, he won re-election for his seat by nearly 15 point.

Since leaving office, Trump has issued a number of endorsements for several Republicans, including Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.). In a statement in February, Trump said he would “back primary rivals who espouse Making America Great Again and our policy of America First.”