Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell wouldn’t say Tuesday whether Rand Paul would make the country more or less safe as president of the United States.

Though McConnell (R-Ky.) has endorsed his Bluegrass State colleague Paul (R-Ky.) for president, the two have been publicly and privately at odds over extending three crucial PATRIOT Act provisions. Despite McConnell’s myriad attempts to mollify Paul and pass short-term extensions to avoid a shutdown, Paul on Sunday evening forced a temporary shutdown of surveillance programs. The Senate is now trying to revive those authorities.

Both men have signaled they’re prepared to move past the run-in. But McConnell appeared caught off guard when asked by a reporter if the country would be more or less safe under a President Paul after his pointed stand against the anti-terrorism provisions.

“I’m not going to start making — you’re trying to get me to make a derogatory comment about members of the Senate,” McConnell said. “I admire and respect them all. We have different points of view on this important issue.”