Rand Paul: 'Biden's bad for the country'

ERLANGER, Ky. – Days before the first presidential debate, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., made it clear he still hasn't decided whether to endorse former President Donald Trump as the party's nominee.

After a political forum in Northern Kentucky, Paul told reporters, "I want to know that we're not going to have so much debt next time around. ... But do I like Trump better than Biden? Without question. I think Biden's bad for the country."

Paul is one of the last Republicans in Congress to withhold an endorsement, although he did publicly support Trump during the former president's recent criminal trial in Manhattan and called for the district attorney leading the investigation to "be put in jail," USA Today reported.

Northern Kentucky renegade U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie has also withheld a Trump endorsement and publicly supported Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' now-defunct presidential bid.

Massie's spokesperson confirmed Tuesday, however, that the representative will be voting for Trump as a delegate at the Republican National Convention next month.

Here are a few things Paul had to say at a political forum hosted by the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Tuesday morning:

What does he think of presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.?

"There are things I disagree with him, also, on – on spending and debt as well. But I haven't been critical because I think having more voices is good … Robert Kennedy ought to be allowed to debate."

He added: "I think it's unfair and actually a campaign contribution from CNN to Trump and to Biden to exclude him (from the presidential debate Thursday.)"

Does Rand Paul want to increase Social Security benefits retirement age?

Paul said "raising the age very gradually, a couple of months each year" would address dwindling funds in the Social Security Administration.

"I think it's better than raising taxes on all of us that are working because a lot of people working now are struggling to pay for their food, and their gas, and everything else….I'd rather keep the taxes similar and gradually have us wait longer."

He also suggested "wealthy people, successful people take a little less Social Security."

On the 'deception' of COVID-19

"Almost all of the things they made you do, there was no science behind it, none. They finally admitted the six-foot rule, there was no science behind that. The masks – they had always said 'Masks don't work' until they went crazy and (former chief medical adviser to the president) Anthony Fauci started wearing three masks on TV."

"Does that mean they don't work at all? No," he said, adding a recommendation that vulnerable or older people wear a mask when in close contact with someone who has COVID-19.

Rand called the nation's response to COVID "a big mistake."

"It led to the debt," he said. "We spent more money in those times because we basically said 'Shut down, but we'll send you a check.' That is a stupid, stupid ignorant economic theory. You cannot not work and be paid by the government."

Rand's position on masks is not supported by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which has reported wearing a face mask reduces the risk of testing positive for COVID-19.

Who's at fault for national debt?

"One of the biggest obstacles we have long term for our country is our debt. We have a $34 trillion debt. People say, 'Well, whose fault it is? Is that Joe Biden's fault?' Yes. Is it Donald Trump's fault? Yes. I mean, both parties have been terrible with spending."

Rand said he's promoted how to address debt for years. "It's called the penny plan. All it does is that it cuts 1% of everything (federal government spending in programs like Medicaid and Social Security), and I do mean everything. If it's not everything, you can't do it."

Who is U.S. Sen. Paul Rand?

Rand, an ophthalmologist, calls Bowling Green, Kentucky, home.

He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010 and ran for president in 2016, seeking the Republican nomination. He lost to now-former President Donald Trump.

Paul is known for his conservative and Libertarian-style views. He was re-elected to a third term in 2022, which ends Jan. 3, 2029.

His father, Ron Paul, is a former U.S. representative from Texas who ran for president three times.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Will Rand Paul support Trump for president?