U.S. Sen. Rand Paul once called President Donald Trump a "fake conservative."
Trump had lobbed his own insults at Paul, saying he "reminds me of a spoiled brat without a properly functioning brain." Later, the Kentucky senator shot back, calling the bellicose New York City business tycoon a "delusional narcissist" on Comedy Central.
Yes, Paul and Trump came out swinging as they fought for the Republican Party's 2016 presidential nomination.
But then, things began to change dramatically — once Trump won the nomination and ultimately the presidency.
Within three years, Paul shifted from calling Trump a bully who was "all blather" to lashing out at the president's political enemies throughout the impeachment saga.
As the impeachment trial unfolded in the Senate, Paul put himself front and center as a chief defender of Trump, downplaying the seriousness of the proceedings by doing a crossword puzzle during early arguments and walking out on the trial after Chief Justice John Roberts rejected one of his questions because it was related to the identity of the whistleblower whose allegations prompted the impeachment inquiry.
"I don’t know how you go from saying 'This is the worst person on the face of the Earth' to 'I must protect this person at all costs,'" said Marisa McNee, the Kentucky Democratic Party's deputy executive director. "Only (Paul) can answer that question."
Brian Darling, who worked as Paul's senior communications director from late 2012 to early 2015, contends that Paul and Trump align closely on foreign policy and issues like cutting taxes.
They've both advocated for winding down America's military involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq, for example.
He also said Paul's pivot makes sense politically.
"Well, it’s smart politics not to trash talk the president and to make comments that are disparaging toward the president, even when you disagree with him, because then you won’t have any influence over the process," Darling said.
The Republican Party of Kentucky's spokesman Mike Lonergan said Paul's relationship with Trump benefits the state.
“Our Republican leaders like Senator Paul and President Trump are working hand-in-hand to make life better for Kentuckians," Lonergan said.
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