President Donald Trump gathered several Republican senators at the newly designed Rose Garden Club on Tuesday afternoon.
During lunch, Trump decided to make a small remark that drew quiet smiles around the table. “We have everybody but one person here. You’ll never guess who that is,” he said. “Let me give you a hint — he automatically votes No on everything. He thinks it’s good politics, it’s not good politics.”
The President then added, “If he wanted to come, I’d probably let him come, begrudgingly.”
Trump to Republican senators: “We have everybody but one person. You’ll never guess who that is. Let me give you — he automatically votes no on everything. Look, if he wanted to come I’d probably let him come. Begrudgingly, but would let him.” pic.twitter.com/lgSgDcXhvc
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 21, 2025
Stay up-to-date with the latest news!
Subscribe and start recieving our daily emails.
The comment was aimed at Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky. Paul has long been known for breaking from the party line and challenging Trump’s agenda. This time, though, Paul’s office told the Daily Mail he was not invited to the gathering in the first place.
The lunch took place at what Trump now calls the “Rose Garden Club,” a new outdoor dining space created for meetings with Republican lawmakers and close allies. Yellow-and-white umbrellas covered the tables. Trump sat at the center, surrounded by senators like Lindsey Graham, Josh Hawley, and Marco Rubio.
The discussion focused on the government shutdown, now stretching past three weeks. Democrats continued to demand more funding for healthcare and housing programs, while Trump insisted the budget must focus on border control and defense.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and budget director Russel Vought were also at the table. Trump praised Vought for his discipline during the shutdown, saying, “He’s tough, but he’s fair.”
The President’s calm tone throughout the lunch contrasted with the growing frustration on Capitol Hill. Democrats accused him of using federal workers as “leverage” while Trump said their demands were “unrealistic” and “politically driven.”
Rand Paul has been one of Trump’s most visible Republican critics in recent months. He opposed the administration’s military operations in Venezuela, criticized tariffs on steel and oil, and voted against multiple spending bills.
The ongoing tension between the two men is not new. Paul said earlier this year that he had been excluded from a White House picnic after disagreeing with Trump’s $4 trillion spending plan.
Featured image via YouTube screengrab
