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Trump’s Senate Antagonists (Ranked)

Failure is not an option for Republicans as the Big Beautiful Bill moves to the Senate. The question is what remains of the multitrillion-dollar, debt-exploding monstrosity when Rand Paul, Ron Johnson, Mike Lee, and the chamber’s other deficit hawks get done with it.

Rand Paul
This is just the latest episode in Paul’s consistent poking of Trump, covering everything from tariffs and fake DOGE cuts to expanded executive authority. Photo: Samuel Corum/Getty Images
Leigh Ann Caldwell
May 28, 2025

It’s that time of year—there’s a lull in Washington, but people are plotting their next moves for a coming showdown. To wit: When the Senate returns next week, they’ll have their turn with the tax and spending cut package hilariously named the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. With Trump’s help, House Speaker Mike Johnson managed to overcome Republican factionalism in the lower chamber to get their version passed. Now the party infighting will migrate to the Senate.