Trump threatens Kentucky’s Massie with primary challenge for opposing spending bill
Republished from Kentucky Lantern
President Donald Trump is threatening to “lead the charge” against U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie’s reelection because the Kentucky Republican is opposing a stopgap spending measure to keep the federal government open this week.
Blasting Massie on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump on Monday night said, “Congressman Thomas Massie, of beautiful Kentucky, is an automatic ‘NO’ vote on just about everything, despite the fact that he has always voted for Continuing Resolutions in the past. HE SHOULD BE PRIMARIED, and I will lead the charge against him.”
Massie is part of a small group of GOP holdouts on a bill that could be voted on by the House Tuesday, Politico reports. With no Democrats in the narrowly divided chamber expected to support the measure, Speaker Mike Johnson cannot afford to lose many Republicans.
Without a continuing resolution, the government could go into a partial shutdown later this week.
Republicans control Congress, but need Democrats to help avert a shutdown just days away
Trump called Massie “just another GRANDSTANDER, who’s too much trouble, and not worth the fight. He reminds me of Liz Chaney before her historic, record breaking fall (loss!). The people of Kentucky won’t stand for it, just watch. DO I HAVE ANY TAKERS???”
Earlier Monday the co-manager of Trump’s 2024 campaign, Chris LaCivita, threatened Massie with a primary challenge in a post on X that said, “Tick tock Tommie.”
In response, Massie posted, “Someone thinks they can control my voting card by threatening my re-election. Guess what? Doesn’t work on me. Three times I’ve had a challenger who tried to be more MAGA than me. None busted 25% because my constituents prefer transparency and principles over blind allegiance.”
Massie — an MIT graduate and former Lewis County judge executive elected to Congress in 2012 — also said on Monday that Republicans leaders should quit kicking the can down the road by passing stopgap continuing resolutions instead of negotiating full-year appropriations bills. Massie said the continuing resolution would obligate Trump to carrying out Democratic President Joe Biden’s spending plan until September.
“Unless I get a lobotomy Monday that causes me to forget what I’ve witnessed the past 12 years, I’ll be a NO on the CR this week,” Massie posted on social media. “It amazes me that my colleagues and many of the public fall for the lie that we will fight another day.”
“The argument for CR in September 2024 was to fight in December 2024 after the election. The argument for CR in December 2024 was to fight in March 2025 after the inauguration,” Massie wrote. “The argument for CR in March 2025 is to fight in September 2025 because… we’re not ready yet ?!?!”
Trump also clashed with Massie in 2020 when the Kentuckian forced Congress back to Washington to vote in person on a $2 trillion COVID-19 relief package.
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky is the only Republican holdout in the Senate against the spending bill. On Monday Paul posted, “The bill continues spending at the inflated pandemic levels and will add $2T to the debt this year. Count me as a hell no!”
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