Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said Friday that he will back Donald Trump if he becomes the Republican presidential nominee.
The former presidential candidate told the Cincinnati Enquirer that he would back the eventual nominee regardless of which candidate wins. Trump, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich have all softened or reversed their pledges to support the GOP nominee no matter what.
During a visit to Northern Kentucky Friday morning, Paul said any Republican nominee is better than supporting Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton.
Specifically, Paul was critical of Clinton’s comments during a campaign stop in Ohio when she said she will “put a whole lot of companies and coal miners out of business.”
“I think we never get the candidate we exactly want unless you’re the candidate,” the Kentucky Republican said. “Think about it from this perspective. I’m from Kentucky, and Hillary Clinton recently said she would put coal miners out of business, and she would put coal companies out of business.”
Paul’s father, former Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, has said he will not support Trump as the nominee.
“I was very explicit about that. I wouldn’t vote for Donald Trump,” he said on CNN Thursday. “If you can’t stand any of them and you happen to be a dedicated progressive, you ought to make your vote count and vote for the Green Party and if you happen to be a libertarian, vote for the Libertarian Party.”
Rand Paul, who ended his presidential campaign in February, added that he will not officially endorse anyone in the Republican primary.
