President Trump on Monday called for a fellow Republican to challenge Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) in a primary election over the congressman’s opposition to a continuing resolution that would keep the government from shutting down.
Massie, a hardline conservative, has pledged to vote against a Trump-backed measure that would increase defense spending while decreasing most non-defense spending below 2024 levels through the end of September.
The bill, which cleared the House Rules Committee on Monday, has earned the support of the conservative House Freedom Caucus and would avert a government shutdown from taking place at midnight Friday if it passes the full House and Senate.
“Thank you to the House Freedom Caucus for just delivering a big blow to the Radical Left Democrats and their desire to raise Taxes and SHUT OUR COUNTRY DOWN!” Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday night.
“Sometimes it takes great courage to do the right thing,” he added, before going after the Kentucky Republican.
“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,” Trump said. “HE SHOULD BE PRIMARIED, and I will lead the charge against him.”
The president accused the six-term congressman of being “just another GRANDSTANDER, who’s too much trouble, and not worth the fight.”
“He reminds me of Liz Chaney [sic] before her historic, record breaking fall (loss!),” Trump added, referring to former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), who became critical of the president after the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol Building and then lost her Wyoming GOP primary the following year to Trump-endorsed Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.).
“The people of Kentucky won’t stand for it, just watch,” the president continued. “DO I HAVE ANY TAKERS???”
If more than two Republicans vote down the measure on Tuesday, it won’t pass — assuming all lawmakers are in attendance.
Reps. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) and Cory Mills (R-Fla.) have indicated they are on the fence about it, but Massie is committed to tanking it.
“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 Sunday on X.
“Why would I vote to continue the waste fraud and abuse DOGE has found?” he added, arguing that Republicans are “punting again” on meaningfully tackling government spending.
Massie indicated that he is not afraid of being primaried in response to a “Tick tock Tommie” tweet directed at him from former Trump campaign manager Chris LaCivita earlier on Monday.
“Someone thinks they can control my voting card by threatening my re-election,” the congressman wrote on X. “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’s office did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
