• Trump asserts Rand Paul is invited to the White House picnic despite claims of being disinvited.
• Paul criticizes the administration's "petty vindictiveness" over opposition to a major spending bill.
• The Congressional picnic is a long-standing tradition, with tensions rising this year.

President Donald Trump confirmed that Senator Rand Paul remains invited to the White House picnic, disputing claims made by Paul that he and his family were disinvited due to their opposition to Trump's major spending legislation. In a post on Truth Social, Trump remarked, "Of course Senator Rand Paul and his beautiful wife and family are invited to the BIG White House Party tonight." He emphasized Paul's significance as "the toughest vote in the history of the U.S. Senate," suggesting that his presence could influence the vote on what Trump called "the Great, Big, Beautiful Bill," a tax-cutting proposal expected to affect the federal deficit significantly, according to Newsweek and The Hill.

Senator Rand Paul, who planned to attend the picnic with family, voiced his frustration at being told he was uninvited. Paul described the incident as "incredibly petty," stating, "I think I'm the first senator in the history of the United States to be uninvited to the White House picnic." He expressed disappointment at what he viewed as a personal attack on his family, aligning with his criticism that the administration is too focused on political retaliation, according to The Hill and India Times.

While Trump insists that Paul and his family were always welcome, the senator remarked on the "level of immaturity" shown by the administration's actions. Paul noted that his family was informed they were no longer welcome and likened it to a declaration of war on his family, adding, "They've decided they want to declare war on my family and exclude us from the White House." This event highlights the ongoing tensions within the Republican party regarding Trump's spending priorities, with both Paul and another party member, Thomas Massie, publicly opposing the bill due to concerns about its financial implications, according to Newsweek, The Hill, and India Times.