Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is warning President Donald Trump that one move could cause the MAGA movement to “dissolve” — and it has nothing to do with any new revelations about Trump’s past ties to the late child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Instead, Paul says the real threat comes from escalating tensions with Venezuela.
Speaking Thursday on the “Reason” podcast, Paul argued that a U.S. invasion would be politically toxic for Trump and his base.
“I actually think Trump is the one who is least likely to want to do these things, but he is surrounded by people who believe in regime change and are goading him on,” Paul said. “I do think, though, that if he invades Venezuela … his movement will dissolve.”
Paul’s comments come as the Trump administration has ramped up U.S. military action in the region. In recent months, U.S. forces have carried out a series of strikes against suspected drug smugglers and their boats in Pacific and Caribbean waters, resulting in more than 70 deaths. Paul criticized the operations for lacking due process and for moving forward without congressional authorization.
He also predicted that backlash over Venezuela would dwarf any internal friction Trump has faced so far — including his recent dispute with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.). Greene, normally a staunch ally, broke with Trump over his handling of the Epstein files. Paul said that rift “will pale in comparison to what happens to his movement” if the U.S. invades Venezuela.
Trump has survived a long list of controversies in office, but Paul noted that Trump’s decision this year to dismiss the Epstein case as a Democratic “hoax” has already strained parts of his coalition. Earlier this week, Trump signed a bill to release classified Epstein-related documents. Paul said he supports that step.
“I’m on the side of transparency,” he said. “I think that it’s important. And if the government’s going to mete out justice, that the justice be impartial based on the color of your skin, impartial based on who you are individually, but also impartial based on your financial circumstance.”
From there, Paul pivoted to another concern: Trump’s growing reliance on emergency powers to impose tariffs.
He pushed back on Trump’s frequent claim that countries like China are “ripping us off,” calling the narrative a form of “false nationalism or patriotism” that wrongly blames foreigners for America’s economic challenges.
Paul also criticized fellow Republicans who once supported reining in emergency powers — at least when former President Joe Biden was in office — but have gone quiet now that Trump is back.
“It really shocks me that people who were for emergency reform are voting to continue emergencies,” Paul said. “Trump’s declared emergencies with 130 countries. I mean, these are literally like the things you would do if you were at war.”
Paul added that Congress has allowed this pattern to become normal. “But that’s what we’ve allowed to happen,” he said.
