WASHINGTON _ The senator who once dubbed Donald Trump an "orange-faced windbag" and the president _ who derided Rand Paul as "truly weird" _ are now fast friends, thanks to Paul's support for Trump's performance in talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Trump and Paul had clashed bitterly during the presidential campaign but they've forged a mutual admiration society in recent days as the Kentucky Republican has proven a rare ray of enthusiastic Republican support for the beleaguered president. Paul has likened Trump's diplomacy to Ronald Reagan's success with Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
Trump has in turn lauded Paul.