Rand Paul is thrilled Donald Trump is skipping Thursday's GOP debate

Rand Paul is glad Donald Trump is skipping the GOP debate

(Image credit: The Kelly File)

Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.) will be participating in Thursday night's Republican presidential debate on Fox News and Donald Trump will not be, and that's just fine with Paul, he told Megyn Kelly on Wednesday's Kelly File. "Well, to me it's kind of a twofer — I feel like I've got a double win," Paul said of Trump's absence. "I'm in the main debate, and I don't have to put up with Donald Trump. I really don't think he's added much of substance. I don't think he's really a conservative."

Kelly then turned to Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas), saying the knock on him is that nobody in the Senate likes him. "You're in the U.S. Senate — do you like him?" she asked. Paul didn't bite, exactly. "I think the biggest challenge Cruz faces now is authenticity," he said, listing some issues where he says Cruz has flip-flopped. And when Kelly asked if Cruz's Canadian birth would be an issue, Paul said "it would be extraordinary to have someone born in Canada as a nominee or as a president," adding that Democrats would probably take the issue all the way to the Supreme Court. So Paul may be glad Trump won't be on stage with him Thursday night, but he isn't afraid to echo Trump's lines about Cruz. Watch below. Peter Weber

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.