Rand Pauls five biggest Republican feuds
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is one of the biggest draws in the Republican Party right now. He's also one of its most polarizing figures.
That was evident once again on Tuesday when Mark Salter, a longtime aide to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), penned an op-ed lambasting the possible presidential candidate over his claim that McCain met with members of the Islamic State.
It got us to thinking: Who else has Paul clashed with in his own party? Plenty of people -- often hawkish Republicans -- over plenty of comments, often over national security and foreign policy.
Below we take a look at Paul's biggest feuds with fellow Republicans, in reverse chronological order. Did we miss any? As always, let us know in the comments section.
1. Mark Salter: We can't mention Salter without laying out the full story. The former McCain aidewrote on Real Clear Politics that Paul is "completely unsuited" for the presidency and "is either a liar or too easily captivated by the kinds of outlandish conspiracy theories that excite many of his and his fathers supporters, a cohort long overrepresented by political fringe dwellers." So, yeah. That happened. Salter's beef was Paul's insistence that McCain met with representatives of the Islamic State last year. "He [McCain] did meet with ISIS, and had his picture taken, and didnt know it was happening at the time," Paul recently told Daily Beast. The Washington Post Fact Checker gave Paul's claim four Pinocchios.
2. Rick Perry:The Texas governorwrote a July Washington Post op-ed arguing that it was "disheartening to hear fellow Republicans, such as Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.),suggest that our nation should ignore whats happening in Iraq." Three days later, Paul put up his own op-ed in Politico accusing Perry of mischaracterizing his views. "Apparently his new glasses havent altered his perception of the world, or allowed him to see it any more clearly," wrote Paul. Oh yes, he went there.
3. Peter King: The New York Republican congressman said in May that part of the reason he was considering running for president was to stop Paul and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.). King is one of the most hawkish members of Congress. It surprised no one when the libertarian-leaning Paul clashed with him.
4. Chris Christie:We could be witnessing the early stages of an epic battle between Paul and the New Jersey governor, since neither are shy about speaking their minds and both are openly considering running for president. It all started in earnest in the summer of 2013, when Christie expressed deep concerns about the skepticism Paul and other libertarian-leaning Republicans voiced about the National Security Agency's sweeping surveillance efforts. Paul swiftly offered a rebuttal on Twitter. More than a year later, the spat still hasn't been smoothed over. Asked in a recent interview withKentucky Educational Television what the first word is that comes to mind when he hears Christie's name, Paul responded "Bridges," a clear dig at the "Bridgegate" traffic scandal that rocked Christie's office.
5. John McCain:The longtime Arizona senatorlabeled Paul and a trio of other members of Congress "wacko birds" in an interview with the Huffington Post. McCain took issue with of the filibuster of now-CIA Director John O. Brennanover drones."I treat Sen. McCain with respect. I don't think I always get the same in return," Paul responded.
Sean Sullivan has covered national politics for The Washington Post since 2012.
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Rand Pauls five biggest Republican feuds
- Joe Rogan Compares ICE to the Gestapo On Podcast With Rand Paul - Yahoo - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Some of this still confuses me: Sen. Rand Paul - Fox Business - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Rand Paul says Trump's threat to bomb Iran 'is not the answer': Not the 'job of the American government' - Fox News - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Dr. Rand Paul introduces the End Welfare for Non-Citizens Act - Middlesboro News - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Rand Paul rips Trump, fellow Republicans over drug boat strikes: They dont give a s about these people - New York Post - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Joe Rogan Experience: #2437 with Rand Paul (Transcript) - The Singju Post - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Rand Paul says GOP colleagues 'dont give a s- about these people in the boats': They 'say theyre pro-life' - Fox News - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Smith: Rand Paul has winning plan for healthcare coverage - Boston Herald - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Top 5 Moments from Joe Rogan's interview with Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul - WUHF - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Rand Paul Opposes U.S. Attacks Against Iran: 'I Don't Think It Will Help The Situation, It Will Make It Worse' - Latin Times - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Rand Paul says Pam Bondi still hasnt acted on his criminal referral of Fauci - Washington Examiner - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Rand Paul: Bombing Iran is not the answer - Politico - January 11th, 2026 [January 11th, 2026]
- Rand Paul says bombing Iran will help regime as Trump considers strikes - The Independent - January 11th, 2026 [January 11th, 2026]
- Rand Paul Warns Trumps Greenland Plan Is Backfiring: You Dont Win Them Over By Denigrating Their Citizens - Yahoo - January 11th, 2026 [January 11th, 2026]
- Rand Paul Makes It Clear: "I will do everything in my power to stop any kind of military takeover in Greenland" - 19FortyFive - January 11th, 2026 [January 11th, 2026]
- Rand Paul shows support for Trump's withdrawal from global organizations - KATU - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- Rand Paul shows support for Trump's withdrawal from global organizations - National News Desk - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- Sen. Rand Paul vows to fight Trump's proposed Greenland invasion: 'Congress has the power to limit the president' - WHAS11 - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- WSAZ+ | U.S. Senator Rand Paul talks with WSAZ - WSAZ - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- Elon Musk Said Rand Paul Is the One Person in Washington Who 'Gets It' - Reason Magazine - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- Rand Paul: Diplomacy, not invasion, is the way to deal with Greenland - WHAS11 - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- U.S. Senator Rand Paul Declares: "I will do everything in my power to stop any kind of military takeover in Greenland" - 19FortyFive - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., speaks to reporters about a war powers resolution regarding Venezuela on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Washington.... - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- Rand Paul: Biden FBI tracked Catholic teacher with no Jan 6 ties in 'weaponized' probe - Yahoo - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- Rand Paul says "I will do everything in my power to stop any kind of military takeover in Greenland" - CBS News - January 8th, 2026 [January 8th, 2026]
- Rand Paul: Biden FBI tracked Catholic teacher with no Jan 6 ties in 'weaponized' probe - Fox News - January 8th, 2026 [January 8th, 2026]
- Rand Paul says Venezuelan operation was an act of war - Washington Examiner - January 8th, 2026 [January 8th, 2026]
- Rand Paul Accuses Trump of Being Under the Thrall of Lindsey Graham After Venezuela Invasion - Yahoo - January 6th, 2026 [January 6th, 2026]
- Rand Paul Releases Festivus Report Detailing $1.6 Trillion in Government Waste - Focus on the Family - December 27th, 2025 [December 27th, 2025]
- Cocaine Dogs and Safe Space Ambassadors: Rand Paul Highlights Wild Government Waste in Annual Festivus Report - National Review - December 25th, 2025 [December 25th, 2025]
- Rand Paul's 'Festivus Report' calls out cocaine dogs, COVID influencers and a mountain of debt - Fox News - December 25th, 2025 [December 25th, 2025]
- Who Are They Protecting? Rand Paul Swipes at Trump DOJ Over Epstein Files in Airing of Grievances - Yahoo - December 25th, 2025 [December 25th, 2025]
- Senator Rand Paul urges full Epstein file release to restore trust in government - WHAS11 - December 25th, 2025 [December 25th, 2025]
- Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, Sen. Rand Paul & Charlamagne Tha God, Sunday on This Week with Co-anchor Jonathan Karl - ABC News - December 25th, 2025 [December 25th, 2025]
- Rand Paul Slams Slams Trump Admin's Seizure Of Tankers Off Venezuela: 'A Provocation And a Prelude To War' - Latin Times - December 25th, 2025 [December 25th, 2025]
- Tis The Season: Rand Paul's 'Festivus' Report - RealClearPolicy - December 25th, 2025 [December 25th, 2025]
- Sen. Rand Paul does not want Vice President J.D. Vance to be the next president - Washington Times - December 25th, 2025 [December 25th, 2025]
- Rand Paul's 'Festivus' report calls out cocaine dogs, COVID influencers and a mountain of debt - FOX 8 TV - December 25th, 2025 [December 25th, 2025]
- Rand Paul Set To Join Dems To Force Trump To Go Through Congress If He Wants To Declare War Against Venezuela - Latin Times - December 2nd, 2025 [December 2nd, 2025]
- Nancy Maces Political Consultant Resigns Over Her Closeness With Rand Paul, Thomas Massie, Saying Trump Should Not Endorse Her - The New York Sun - December 2nd, 2025 [December 2nd, 2025]
- Trump touts GOP unity while slamming Marjorie Taylor Greene, Thomas Massie and Rand Paul - New York Post - November 24th, 2025 [November 24th, 2025]
- Sen. Rand Paul says he has been given "zero, not one briefing" about Venezuelan actions - CBS News - November 24th, 2025 [November 24th, 2025]
- Trump online threats, posture toward Venezuela posture draw criticism from Sen. Rand Paul - WUKY - November 24th, 2025 [November 24th, 2025]
- Rand Paul Again Slams Trump Admin Over Campaign Against Venezuela: 'If It's War, Declare It' - Latin Times - November 24th, 2025 [November 24th, 2025]
- Senator Rand Paul weighs in on Kentucky hemp, effects of the government shutdown and the improvements of it - WDRB - November 23rd, 2025 [November 23rd, 2025]
- 'His Movement Will Dissolve': Rand Paul Warns Trump That 1 Decision Could Ruin Him - Yahoo - November 23rd, 2025 [November 23rd, 2025]
- Rand Paul Slams Alcohol And Marijuana Interests Over Federal Hemp Ban, Announcing He'll File A Bill To Reverse It Next Week - Marijuana Moment - November 23rd, 2025 [November 23rd, 2025]
- 'His Movement Will Dissolve': Rand Paul Warns Trump That 1 Decision Could Ruin Him - HuffPost - November 23rd, 2025 [November 23rd, 2025]
- Rand Paul Eyes Returning Hemp Policy To The States - Law360 - November 23rd, 2025 [November 23rd, 2025]
- 'The nanny state' | Sen. Rand Paul pitches restoring power to the states to regulate hemp - WHAS11 - November 23rd, 2025 [November 23rd, 2025]
- Rand Paul: Congress Is 'Afraid of the President' - Reason Magazine - November 23rd, 2025 [November 23rd, 2025]
- Rand Paul doubts there will be Earth-shattering details in Epstein files | CUOMO - Yahoo - November 23rd, 2025 [November 23rd, 2025]
- Rand Paul Slams Strikes Against Alleged Drug Vessels, Claims It's Unclear Whether They Are Heading To The U.S. - Latin Times - November 23rd, 2025 [November 23rd, 2025]
- Rand Paul Slams GOP's Shift From Fiscal Conservatism: They Voted To Add '$5 Trillion' To The Debt Ceiling Calls It 'Decimation' - Intel (NASDAQ:INTC)... - November 23rd, 2025 [November 23rd, 2025]
- Rand Paul: The government is open, but a hemp industry shutdown has just begun | Opinion - The Courier-Journal - November 14th, 2025 [November 14th, 2025]
- Rand Paul warns McConnell-backed provision will regulate hemp industry to death - LINK nky - November 14th, 2025 [November 14th, 2025]
- Rand Paul warns McConnell-backed provision will regulate hemp industry to death - the-messenger.com - November 14th, 2025 [November 14th, 2025]
- Senator Rand Paul threatens to delay government reopening over hemp language - The Independent - November 11th, 2025 [November 11th, 2025]
- Black Tie CBD Stands with Senator Rand Paul to Defend the Future of Legal Hemp and THCA Products - Reuters - November 11th, 2025 [November 11th, 2025]
- Rand Paul wants hemp vote to speed up shutdown endgame - Politico - November 11th, 2025 [November 11th, 2025]
- Republican Senator Uses Trump Post to Dunk on Rand Paul: Common Sense Is Illegal - Yahoo - November 11th, 2025 [November 11th, 2025]
- Rand Paul demands vote on hemp amendment before proceeding with tally to open government - Washington Examiner - November 11th, 2025 [November 11th, 2025]
- Itll take them 5 days': Rand Paul could be obstacle to quickly ending shutdown - Politico - November 10th, 2025 [November 10th, 2025]
- Republican Senator Uses Trump Post to Dunk on Rand Paul: Common Sense Is Illegal - Mediaite - November 10th, 2025 [November 10th, 2025]
- Trump Drags Rand Paul for Blocking Bill to Withhold Pay From Senators: He Wanted to Be Paid! - Yahoo - November 10th, 2025 [November 10th, 2025]
- U.S. Sen. Rand Paul hopeful ongoing discussions will end government shutdown - WCHS - November 10th, 2025 [November 10th, 2025]
- RAND PAUL: THE SWAMP SMILES FOR EVERY CONCESSION MADE BY THE GOP "Tonight the process of opening the govt begins. Less chaos is a good thing but... - November 10th, 2025 [November 10th, 2025]
- Rand Paul Again Warns Against Regime In Venezuela: 'Risks Empowering The Very Cartels We Are Trying To Defeat' - Latin Times - November 10th, 2025 [November 10th, 2025]
- Rep. Thomas Massie announces marriage to former staffer of Sen. Rand Paul - WLWT - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Senators Tim Kaine and Rand Paul on Tariffs and U.S. Trade - C-SPAN - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Rep. Thomas Massie announces his marriage to former staffer of Rand Paul - WAVE News - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Rep. Thomas Massie marries ex-Rand Paul staffer a year after wifes death: Of course we served raw milk! - New York Post - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Sen. Rand Paul blasts health care subsidies for rich people as shutdown drags on - Fox Business - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Civilized People Dont Do This! Rand Paul Torches Trumps Insane Strikes on Alleged Drug Boats - Yahoo - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Opinion - Bill Straub: Rand Paul shows backbone in recent efforts to kill Trump's damaging tariff policy - NKyTribune - November 3rd, 2025 [November 3rd, 2025]
- Kentucky Senator Rand Paul urges compromise to open government - WAVE News - October 30th, 2025 [October 30th, 2025]
- Rand Paul Takes to Fox News Sunday to Condemn Trump Over Shutdown Gridlock, Extrajudicial Killings On Suspected Drug Boats - Yahoo - October 30th, 2025 [October 30th, 2025]
- How Rand Paul says Congress can work together to end government shutdown - The Courier-Journal - October 28th, 2025 [October 28th, 2025]
- PolitiFact FL: Is Rand Paul right 25% of Coast Guard searches of suspected drug boats come up empty? - WLRN - October 28th, 2025 [October 28th, 2025]
- Sen. Rand Paul calls for immediate action to pay federal employees and end shutdown - LEX18 - October 28th, 2025 [October 28th, 2025]