Rand Paul: Cuts in 'Big Beautiful Bill' are 'wimpy,' 'anemic,' and would 'explode the debt'

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said he would've been willing to vote for President Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" even with the "wimpy and anemic" spending cuts, but the current bill would "explode the debt."

During an appearance on "Fox News Sunday," Paul, who said he is a hard no on the bill the House passed early Thursday morning, said he supports spending cuts.

"I think the cuts currently in the bill are wimpy and anemic, but I still would support the bill even with wimpy and anemic cuts if they weren't going to explode the debt," he said.

Paul noted that "the math doesn't add up," repeating his call to remove the $4 trillion debt limit hike, again saying it is "not conservative."

"There's got to be someone left in Washington who thinks debt is wrong and deficits are wrong and wants to go in the other direction," he said.

The House passed the bill in a marathon overnight session last week, marking a significant win for Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), however, it will likely hit major roadblocks with the Senate.

Since the bill's passing in the lower chamber, House Republicans are urging GOP Senators not to change the legislation too severely, or it will never get through the House on its return.

However, Paul has stood firm in his stance against supporting the bill, adding that "conservatives do need to stand up and have their voice heard."

"Somebody has to stand up and yell, 'The emperor has no clothes,'" he said. "And everybody's falling in lockstep on this, pass the 'Big, Beautiful Bill,' don't question anything."

"Well, conservatives do need to stand up and have their voice heard," he continued. "This is a problem we've been facing for decades now, and if we don't stand up on it, I really fear the direction the country is going."