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GOP senator sounds off on Trump’s Iran war, warns of midterm backlash: ‘We’re worse off’
The chief Senate Republican critic of the Iran war bashed President Donald Trump’s decision to initiate the conflict, claiming the country is “worse off than we were before” the fighting started.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who was one of four Senate Republicans to side with Democrats on a War Powers resolution condemning the Iran war, also warned that Trump’s decision will “probably” harm the GOP in the midterms. Paul switched his vote to “present” for a subsequent, similar resolution after Trump lashed out against the four GOP senators for their initial vote.
“I think the Iran war has not been a success. I’ve been opposed to the Iran war from the beginning. I think by any objective measure we’re worse off than we were before the war,” Paul told CNN’s Manu Raju.
The Kentucky Republican suggested voters will not react positively if the GOP-led Congress authorizes $70 billion for the Iran war before November’s midterm elections.
“I think people are mostly upset about how much things cost, and so when they go see gas prices,” Paul told Raju, trailing off. “But it’s also really just all across the board.”
Asked by Raju if “there will be backlash in November” for Republicans, Paul replied, “probably.”