The ongoing feud between President Donald Trump and Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., has reignited, with Trump declaring on Monday night that Massie “SHOULD BE PRIMARIED” and pledging to “lead the charge against him.” The attack, delivered via Truth Social, compared Massie to former Rep. Liz Cheney, a fierce Trump critic who lost her seat in a landslide 2022 primary defeat.
Trump’s criticism comes as Massie prepares to vote against a government funding measure that the president has been urging Republicans to support. Massie, known for his staunch fiscal conservatism, has long opposed continuing resolutions (CRs) to extend government funding, arguing they contribute to unchecked federal spending.
Rather than backing down, Massie used Trump’s attack as a fundraising tool, posting a donation link and declaring his intention to seek re-election. “Why don’t more Representatives stand on principle? Because telling the truth can get you in hot water,” he wrote on X. “I will run again because we need at least one person in Congress who won’t cave.”
Massie has made it clear that he isn’t intimidated by primary threats, writing earlier on X, “Someone thinks they can control my voting card by threatening my re-election. Guess what? Doesn’t work on me.” He also pointed out that past primary challengers attempting to be “more MAGA” than him had failed to garner more than 25% of the vote.
Trump’s relationship with Massie has been rocky for years. In 2020, Trump called for the Kentucky congressman to be removed from the GOP after Massie opposed a COVID-19 relief package. At the time, Trump labeled him a “third-rate Grandstander” and urged Republicans to “throw Massie out.” Despite this, Massie won his primary easily.
Two years later, Trump reversed course and endorsed Massie for re-election in 2022, which helped the congressman secure another victory. However, tensions flared again in 2023 when Massie endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for president before DeSantis even launched his campaign. After DeSantis dropped out in early 2024, Massie eventually endorsed Trump just weeks before the general election.
Not everyone in the Republican Party is siding with Trump in this latest battle. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, defended Massie, calling him one of the hardest-working members of Congress when it comes to controlling federal spending. “He might vote differently on this matter than most, but if he does so he’ll have a really good reason,” Lee said. “I’m a huge fan.”
Massie’s decision to vote against the funding measure puts him at odds with Trump’s push to “buy time” and avoid a government shutdown. The president thanked the House Freedom Caucus for their support of the bill, saying their efforts delivered a “big blow to the Radical Left Democrats.” But in the same breath, he took aim at Massie, calling him a “GRANDSTANDER” who was “too much trouble” and “not worth the fight.”
