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
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
7 drinks for every winter need possibleThe Week Recommends Including a variety of base spirits and a range of temperatures
-
'We have made it a crime for most refugees to want the American dream'Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Was the Azerbaijan Airlines plane shot down?Today's Big Question Multiple sources claim Russian anti-aircraft missile damaged passenger jet, leading to Christmas Day crash that killed at least 38
-
Putin says Russia isn't weakened by Syria setbackSpeed Read Russia had been one of the key backers of Syria's ousted Assad regime
-
Georgia DA Fani Willis removed from Trump caseSpeed Read Willis had been prosecuting the election interference case against the president-elect
-
Democrats blame 'President Musk' for looming shutdownSpeed Read The House of Representatives rejected a spending package that would've funding the government into 2025
-
Trump, Musk sink spending bill, teeing up shutdownSpeed Read House Republicans abandoned the bill at the behest of the two men
-
Congress reaches spending deal to avert shutdownSpeed Read The bill would fund the government through March 14, 2025
-
Luigi Mangione charged with murder, terrorismSpeed Read Magnione is accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson
-
Ex-FBI informant pleads guilty to lying about BidensSpeed Read Alexander Smirnov claimed that President Joe Biden and his son Hunter were involved in a bribery scheme with Ukrainian energy company Burisma
-
South Korea impeaches president, eyes chargesSpeed Read Yoon Suk Yeol faces investigations on potential insurrection and abuse of power charges
