Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) expressed strong criticism towards the White House after revealing he was “not invited” to the annual picnic.
In regard to the “big, beautiful bill” concerning debt restrictions, Paul commented that he and his family—his wife, son, daughter-in-law, and six-month-old grandson—were slated to attend the picnic on Thursday. However, he was informed on Wednesday that they were no longer welcome.
“I was told I wasn't invited to the picnic. I believe I may be the first senator in U.S. history who hasn't received an invite to a White House picnic,” Paul stated to reporters. “The White House belongs to the taxpayers. We have Democrats invited, Republicans invited, but I'm not the only one expected to be welcomed to the White House grounds.”
“I find this incredibly trivial,” he added. “I have always been polite to the President. While I consider myself a philosophical opponent and a critic of public policy, being excluded from the picnic—and having my grandson barred from attending—is an unfortunate move.”
Paul went on to say, “This level of immaturity is beyond words,” before expressing his strong disdain for Trump.
“I’m advocating from a genuine belief that our nation is struggling under the weight of debt, which is only worsening. Instead of addressing the issue, they choose to respond by excluding my family from the picnic,” he asserted. “It significantly diminishes the respect I had for Donald Trump.”
Paul mentioned he could not clarify the reasoning behind the retracted invitation, indicating he was unsure who at the White House made that decision. The Hill reached out to the White House for comments.
Picnics at the White House have been a tradition under both Democratic and Republican presidents for many years.
This year’s gathering faces criticism as the administration attempts to push through the extensive agenda bill in Congress, particularly within the Senate.
Paul, a Republican with libertarian leanings, is against the bill’s $4 trillion debt limit and has repeatedly voiced concerns about the growing deficit. He has stated that he would not support the legislation if the debt provisions remain intact.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noted that Congress needs to raise borrowing limits this summer to prevent economic defaults. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans can only afford to lose three votes when moving the package forward, making Paul’s opposition significant.
On Wednesday, Paul indicated that the revoked invitation was unlikely to encourage him to support the substantial bill.
“When you tell your grandson that he can’t attend the White House picnic, it suggests a level of pettiness within Congress,” he remarked when questioned about the implications of the snub on his support for the bill.
“Last week demonstrated to me that they are indifferent to my vote… I had previously indicated that if the debt cap were removed, I would support the bill. Perhaps they think they can do without my vote.”
“This situation feels like punishment for speaking out. I cannot attend the picnic. It’s disheartening, yet this behavior seems rather trivial. These small acts of vindictiveness are perplexing.”
Paul also critiqued Steven Miller, the deputy chief of staff at the White House, speculating that the retraction of his invitation might have originated from lower-level staff rather than Trump himself.
“It may have come from junior staff, but these are individuals who shouldn’t be in positions of influence. I have even heard discussions about removing a certain group of people,” he expressed.
“Moreover, the same individuals behind this campaign are often the ones who disregard parts of the Constitution and disregard the corpus of habeas corpus. It’s troubling that they want to silence dissenting voices like mine; it reinforces the notion that they are not fit for their roles.”
Source: thehill.com