Rand Paul gets testy during 'Today' show interview
A day after announcing the launch of his 2016 presidential campaign during a fiery speech in Louisville, Ky., Sen. Rand Paul grew a bit testy during an interview on the “Today” show Wednesday.
Appearing via satellite from New Hampshire, the tea party favorite took issue with “Today” co-anchor Savannah Guthrie’s line of questioning about how his views on several key foreign policy issues seem to have changed over the years.
“Before we go through a litany of things you say I’ve changed on,” Paul said, cutting Guthrie off, “why don’t you ask me a question, ‘Have I changed my opinion?’ That would be a better way to approach an interview.”
“Is Iran still not a threat?” Guthrie asked.
“No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no,” Paul replied. “Listen, you’ve editorialized. Let me answer a question. You ask a question, and you say, ‘Have your views changed?’ instead of editorializing and saying my views have changed.”
The Republican hopeful, who was appearing via satellite from New Hampshire, then tried to steer the interview to a series of talking points.
“My opinion has always been that we shouldn’t borrow money from China to send it to any country,” Paul said. “But I also realize that things will have to be done gradually and that if we are going to try to eliminate or reduce foreign aid, why don’t we start with the countries that hate us and burn our flag? And the one thing that is true is that Israel doesn’t burn our flag, and so I haven’t proposed removing aid from Israel.”
“But you once did,” Guthrie said.
“Let me answer the question,” he responded. “I still agree with my original statement from years ago that ultimately all nations should be free of foreign aid.”
Eventually, he answered Guthrie’s question about Iran, which, in 2007, Paul suggested was not a threat to the United States.
“Yeah, 2007 was a long time ago,” he said. “And events do change over long periods of time, so we’re talking about eight years ago. We’re talking about a time I wasn’t running for office … what I would say is there has always been a threat of Iran gaining nuclear weapons, and I think that it’s greater now than it was many years ago. I think we should do everything we can to stop them. I voted for sanctions to try and stop them.
"I’m somewhat skeptical of the president’s agreement,” Paul added. “However, I am in favor of negotiations over war, and I think I have been one of the reasonable people in our party who has not been beating the drums for war.”
As the National Journal noted, Paul is developing something of a reputation for interrupting female reporters. In February, he had a similar exchange with CNBC’s Kelly Evans, whom he shushed at one point.
Photo: NBC/Today
