Rand Paul's son apologises for vile tirade: 'I hate Jews and I hate gays and I don't care if they die'

The son of Republican senator Rand Paul has publicly apologised after a Republican congressman accused him of launching into a drunken, antisemitic, and anti-gay rant at a Washington D.C. bar. William Paul now says he is seeking help for a drinking problem.

A shocking ten-minute diatribe

William Hilton Paul, the 33-year-old son of Senator Rand Paul, has apologised for a shocking tirade at a Washington D.C. bar in which he reportedly told a Republican congressman he "hates Jews and hates gays".

The confrontation is said to have occurred on a Tuesday night at the Tune Inn Restaurant & Bar on Pennsylvania Avenue. According to Republican congressman Mike Lawler, the senator's son drunkenly accosted him and launched into "a ten-minute diatribe about Jews". Lawler claimed Paul, who recently worked as a congressional aide, said he would hold "anti-American" Jews responsible if his father's ally, Kentucky congressman Thomas Massie, loses a primary election.

Lawler told reporters that Paul stated he "hates Jews and hates gays and doesn't care if they die". The congressman, who is not Jewish, described the rant as "f****** disgusting" and "arguably the most shocking thing" he has experienced in his time in Washington. Details of the incident were first reported by a witness, Reese Gorman of the digital publication Notus, in a first-hand account.

The bitter political backdrop

The outburst appears linked to an increasingly nasty primary campaign in Kentucky. Thomas Massie, a critic of US-Israel relations, has enraged President Donald Trump by leading efforts to release files on Jeffrey Epstein, the late sex offender Trump socialised with for nearly two decades.

Massie is facing a challenge from Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL who is endorsed by the president. Gallrein's campaign is also backed by Republican billionaire donor Paul Singer, who is Jewish and a supporter of gay rights. According to Axios, an outside group supporting Massie recently ran an attack ad focusing on Singer. "Eddie Gallrein is bought and paid for by the LGBTQ mafia," the ad reportedly began. "Far-left trans activist billionaire Paul Singer is bringing his trans madness to Kentucky... The gay mafia will own woke Eddie." The ad featured an image of Singer in front of a rainbow-coloured Star of David.

During his rant, William Paul reportedly told Lawler: "Paul Singer serves Israeli interests, not American interests." The New York Post also reported that Paul blamed Israel for the US war on Iran, and said the US was "trying to steal Iran's land for the Jews".

A pattern of alcohol-related issues

This incident is the latest in a series of public, alcohol-fuelled legal troubles for William Paul. His history includes a 2013 arrest where he was charged with underage alcohol consumption and simple assault on a flight. Later that year, he was cited for possession of alcohol by a minor.

In 2015, he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence in Kentucky, a charge he faced again and pleaded guilty to in 2023. On multiple occasions, Senator Rand Paul's office has responded to his son's legal issues by stating that the family should be afforded privacy.

'I had too much to drink'

Just minutes after Lawler spoke to reporters about the incident, William Paul posted an apology on social media under the handle TastyBrew1776.

"Last night, I had too much to drink and said some things that don't represent who I really am. I'm sorry and today I am seeking help for my drinking problem," he wrote.

Lawler recounted a bizarre moment during the encounter where, after he pointed out he was not Jewish, a drunk Paul allegedly said: "Oh wow, I'm so sorry for calling you a Jew," before continuing his tirade. He then reportedly urged Lawler "to watch more Tucker Carlson", before flipping off the congressman and tripping over his bar stool as he left.

A sign of a larger problem

Congressman Lawler commented that the incident "speaks to a larger issue, obviously, in society, and what we're seeing among young people, what we see online." His sentiment is echoed by organisations tracking hate speech. The ADL stated that the open abuse of a Member of Congress is "outrageous and a sign of how far too normalised antisemitism has become."

Recent data has shown a significant rise in reported hate crimes across the United States. One report noted that such crimes have more than doubled in the last decade, with anti-Black, anti-Jewish, and anti-LGBTQ+ crimes being the most prevalent.

Senator Rand Paul's senate office did not immediately return requests for comment on his son's behaviour or apology.