Rand Paul: Biden ‘bluffing’ with threat to veto House GOP bill on Israel aid

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) claimed Wednesday that President Biden is “bluffing” by threatening to veto House Republicans’ bill on Israel aid.

“I think President Biden’s bluffing. I don’t think he’ll veto aid to Israel,” Paul said in an interview on “Fox and Friends.” “You really think he’s going to stand up in front of the world and say, ‘Oh, we’re not sending aid to Israel just because it’s paid for’?” 

The White House said Tuesday that Biden would veto the House GOP package, arguing it “inserts partisanship into support for Israel.” The bill would provide aid to Israel while cutting funding for the IRS and leaving out aid for Ukraine and other national security priorities.

The Republican package unveiled Monday would provide $14.3 billion in aid for Israel while cutting the same amount in IRS funding that was included in Biden’s signature Inflation Reduction Act legislation.

Democrats have blasted the GOP measure while pointing out despite Republicans’ claims about the legislation being aimed at responsible spending, the bill would add to the deficit.

According to an estimate from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the House bill could cost the U.S. $26 billion in revenue over the next decade.

Paul praised newly elected Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) for introducing the bill, calling it “the conservative thing to do.”

“Friend or foe, whoever we’re giving the money to, it ought to be paid for because our national debt is threatening our national security. Can we give Israel some money? Yeah, but it ought to be paid for. It ought to be paid for by taking it away from something that is harmful to our economy, and that’s more IRS agents,” Paul said. “So I think this is a win-win if we get it done.”

“I think [Senate GOP Leader Mitch] McConnell [Ky.], Biden and [Senate Democratic Leader Chuck] Schumer [N.Y.] are going to lose on this ultimately, or if they forced their way, they could potentially topple the Speaker of the House, which I think is a terrible idea,” Paul added.

Updated: 3:53 p.m.