Sen. Rand Paul says he was not invited to Republican luncheon

WASHINGTON (NBC News) – Republican lawmakers met at the White House in an apparent show of solidarity on the 21st day of the government shutdown.

During the luncheon, President Donald Trump touted the work he’s done with the help of Congress and blasted the Democrats in the Senate he blames for the shutdown.

Not among the group of Senate Republicans at the event was Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul.

Trump joked about the absence in his remarks after Paul told reporters he was not invited.

Trump stated, “And, you know, we have everybody but one person here. You know, everybody showed up. I said, I figured you’d have, like, I’d say 40 would have been a good number. If everybody, we’re just missing one person. You’ll never guess who that is. Let me give you. He automatically votes no and everything. He thinks it’s good politics. It’s really not good politics. He’s an automatic ‘no,’ but I don’t know. Look, if he wanted to come, I’d probably let him come, right? I’d let him come begrudgingly, but would let him come.”

When asked if it was because of Paul’s opposition to some of Trump’s agenda, Paul stated, “You know, I don’t know, because there are other people who occasionally vote against him as well. You know, on the last go round, there was, I think, another Republican who voted against what the White House wanted. I don’t know. I don’t think it’s a real smart strategy, but it is their prerogative. They, you know, they rule the roost over there, and they can make decisions on who they want to invite. I think, in the end, it’s not a great tactic for them.”

The Senate rejected the House-passed short-term spending bill for the 11th time yesterday.