Longtime Republican political operative and former Trump campaign adviser Roger Stone has launched a petition urging President Trump to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to former congressman and three-time presidential candidate Ron Paul. Stone argues that Paul’s influence on the Republican Party was pivotal to Trump’s political rise.
Stone first shared the petition on X over the weekend, writing, “There is no person alive today more deserving of the Presidential Medal of Freedom than [Ron Paul]. That’s why I started this petition urging President Trump to award him this great honor[.]” The post links to the petition on Stone’s personal website, where he credits Paul with “shifting the Republican Party away from the neocon orthodoxy of endless war and big government.”
“With nothing more than the Constitution as his guide, he sparked a revolutionary movement that changed the DNA of the Republican Party, paving the way for President Trump’s historic victory in 2016 — with much of what he championed being cornerstones of Trump’s agenda,” Stone’s petition claims.
Stone concludes by describing Paul in his petition as “living proof one godly man can change the world for good.”
Paul, known for being a longtime advocate of libertarian principles within the Republican Party, served in Congress for twelve terms out of Texas and ran twice for the GOP presidential nomination in 2008 and 2012. While active in electoral politics, Paul was a staunch advocate for limited government, fiscal conservatism, and a non-interventionist foreign policy, themes that later resonated with significant parts of Trump’s voter base. However, Paul himself was critical of Trump during his first GOP presidential bid in 2016.
His name has recently surfaced in discussions about auditing the Federal Reserve, and some, such as Elon Musk, have even floated him as a potential candidate for its next chair.
Paul has also maintained close ties to the Libertarian Party, speaking at its national convention as recently as last year. He is a lifetime member of the party, once stating in an interview that he paid his membership dues in gold coins. Paul was also the Libertarian Party’s 1988 presidential nominee, appearing on 46 state ballots, plus D.C., and receiving 431,750 votes.
Stone’s petition, while praising Paul as a Republican, has received support from some Libertarians, including the Libertarian Party of Ohio, which praised the effort on social media. “Ron Paul’s commitment to libertarian values has brought the principles of liberty and limited government to the forefront of political discourse. Awarding him the Presidential Freedom Award would honor a leader who has profoundly influenced the spread of libertarian ideas on the political landscape,” the state party wrote on X.
This is way overdue. A greater patriot never existed!
Roger Stone praising someone for being “Godly” is as absurd as it would be to hear David Hogg praising someone for excellent marksmanship.
Signed. Thanks for sharing this, Jordan!
“There is no person alive today more deserving of the Presidential Medal of Freedom than @RonPaul”
I don’t know I’d go quite that far, but he’s certainly up there.
“he sparked a revolutionary movement that changed the DNA of the Republican Party”
Did it though? The GOP seems no more likely to field a candidate like Paul today, than it was in 2008 and 2012 – or his son in 2016. Alas!
“much of what he championed being cornerstones of Trump’s agenda”
Well, of the latter’s talking points at any rate…
“Paul was also the Libertarian Party’s 1988 presidential nominee”
Yup, he sure was. Unfortunately they chained him to “progressive” running-mate Andre “abortion rights and gay rights” Marrou, and that was the end of that.
“the Libertarian Party of Ohio, which praised the effort on social media”
Wow! I can’t remember the last time I agreed with the LPOH about anything. Did Nanna finally get smote by God and Strelow get hacked or something?
Excellent idea. Ron Paul has been a constant advocate for freedom.