Rand Paul Says Donald Trump is ‘Gollum’

WASHINGTON — (CNN) Donald Trump has been called all sorts of names during his White House bid — perhaps most colorfully in the U.K. parliament — but fellow Republican presidential candidate Rand Paul is trying a new one: Gollum.

For the uninitiated, Gollum is a character in the “Lord of the Rings” fantasy series who is corrupted by his desire for the ring of power (and that’s all the explanation we have space for here). And on Wednesday, Paul wrote a Facebook post that features a picture of Trump and makes a lengthy comparison to the power-addled fantasy creature.

“This race should not be about who can grasp the ring. Electing Gollum should not be our objective. This race should be about which candidate will best protect you from an overbearing government,” Paul wrote, before casting himself as the only candidate not interested in the presidency — or the one ring.

“I am the only one on this national stage who really doesn’t want power or dominion over you,” he wrote. “I want to set you free, I want to leave you alone, and I want a government so small you can barely see it.”