Tensions within the Republican Party spilled into public view after Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., sharply criticized fellow GOP Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, calling him a “freaking snake” during remarks to a group of voters in Tulsa.
According to reporting by Oklahoma journalist David Arnett, Mullin made the comment while speaking to the McGrath Breakfast Group last Saturday. The Oklahoma senator was asked about his vote against an amendment in the Senate and used the opportunity to take direct aim at Paul, whom he accused of repeatedly bucking the Republican Party on critical votes.
Mullin defended his decision to vote against the amendment, arguing that doing so helped prevent a government shutdown. The amendment in question would have killed a bill and other appropriations tied to President Trump’s push for a minibus spending package ahead of a funding deadline last month.
“I respect Bernie Sanders because he’s an open socialist, and you know that he’s a communist so you know what you’re getting. Rand Paul’s a freaking snake,” Mullin said, according to Arnett’s Substack.
The remarks underscore deep frustration among some Republicans over Paul’s frequent opposition to party-backed spending measures. Earlier this year, Paul broke with fellow Republicans on the summer spending package, drawing criticism from President Trump and other GOP lawmakers. He also joined six other Republicans last week in voting against advancing a six-bill funding package.
That measure ultimately failed in a 45-55 vote and would have required Democratic support to move forward.
Addressing the controversy surrounding his vote, Mullin rejected accusations that he supported additional funding for illegal immigrants. Paul’s amendment sought to strip $5 billion from the bill designated for refugee welfare programs.
“The question is why did I vote to give illegals more money? I didn’t,” Mullin told the Tulsa group. “The president made it very clear he wanted appropriation bills passed. If any amendment passes, it kills the whole bill. Rand Paul’s amendment sounds good, right? The problem is Rand knew that if that bill passed, it would kill the other eleven appropriation bills, which would throw us into the shutdown.”
Mullin argued that Paul’s move, while politically appealing on its face, would have derailed broader legislative priorities and forced lawmakers back to the drawing board.
“Rand doesn’t ever vote with [Republicans] when it comes to appropriation bills,” Mullin said. “I had to vote against it because if that would have passed, not only would it have killed the bill, but it would also have killed the farm bill which is tied to social programs. If you change the ratio you must redo the entire farm bill.”
He went further, suggesting there was more to Paul’s strategy than met the eye.
“What Rand was trying to do was trying to kill the farm bill because he’s trying to legalize hemp for drinks in Kentucky because of tobacco industry shifts,” Mullin said. “There is always a backstory.”
The exchange highlights an ongoing rift within the GOP over spending, strategy, and how best to advance conservative priorities without triggering legislative gridlock or risking a government shutdown.
