‘Regime Change Isn’t Always What You Expect’

Republican Sen. Rand Paul again slammed President Donald Trump over the administration’s military pressure campaign on Venezuela, which, according to different reports, ultimately seek to oust the Caracas regime.

Speaking on NBC News’ Meet The Press, Paul was asked if he believed Trump wants to go to war with Venezuela.

“I don’t know what his intentions are. Not being a master of spy craft, if you announce you’re approving covert CIA action, it’s no longer covert,” Paul began, in reference to a statement by Trump last week in which he confirmed he had authorized the agency to operate in the South American country.

“If you’re going to spy on a country you usually don’t announce it. I do think there are members of his administration who have been agitating for war with Venezuela for a long time. Once again there’s a stick and a carrot. Yes, the president is right. We would defeat them in a matter of days. but the chaos that ensues…” Paul warned.

“One of the things I like about President Trump was that he opposed regime changes during the first Iraq war and in Libya. Both of those pursuits cost us trillions and led to decades of violence, instability, and chaos. Regime change isn’t always what you expect to get,” Paul concluded.

Trump has lashed back at Paul in response. He recently dedicated him a social media post after he cosponsored a bill to prevent the administration from bypassing Congress when seeking to take military action.

Concretely, Paul is joining a bill introduced by Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine, which will force a vote to stop Trump from unilaterally declaring war on the South American country. NPR detailed that the Upper House will have to vote after a 10-day waiting period.

Paul addressed the move in a social media publication, claiming “it’s imperative that we make it clear that war powers reside with Congress, not the president.”

Trump reacted hours later, asking “Whatever happened to ‘Senator’ Rand Paul?”

“He was never great, but he went really BAD! I got him elected, TWOCE (in the Great Commonwealth of Kentucky!), but he just never votes positively for the Republican Party. He’s a nasty liddle’ guy, much like ‘Congressman’ Thomas Massie, aka Rand Paul Jr., also of Kentucky (which I won three times, in massive landslides!), a sick Wacko, who refuses to vote for our great Republican Party, MAGA, or America First. It’s really weird!!!”