Posted on 06/23/2025 3:12:53 AM PDT by RandFan
President Trump's political operation has launched an aggressive effort to unseat Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, its first such effort to defeat a sitting Republican incumbent, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: By going after Massie, Trump's team is looking to put wayward Republicans on notice that they're ready to play hardball.
Massie has attacked Trump over his strike on Iran, saying on X that it was "not Constitutional," prompting the president to fire back on Truth Social that the congressman is "not MAGA." He also called Massie "weak, ineffective" and "disrespectful to our great military, and all that they stand for."
Massie was one of two House Republicans to vote against Trump's "big beautiful bill" last month, leading Trump to declare that he should be "voted out of office."
Zoom out: Trump's $500 million political apparatus is the most powerful, well-funded force in American politics — and gives Trump a weapon with which to target any lawmaker who crosses him.
(Excerpt) Read more at axios.com ...
I wonder where Freepers stand and on this fissure and if anyone will support/donate to him? (His fundraising will be interesting).
Rand will support him 100% in Kentucky and he does have a large audience on twitter/X.
This may be a case where he’s better off without out-of-state funding, since that’s a knock on Trump’s effort every time he goes after him.
disloyal is worse than being a democrat i suppose
Robert Barnes gave some pretty good background last night on Massie’s district. Long and consistent antiwar record. My guess is they have sent a lot of fighters to the military as well, which makes it an especially honorable position IMO.
Loyalty should be to the country and Constitution, not another pol.
Massie is elected by the citizens of his district. He represents them in Congress, not the House Speaker, not the President.
Trump’s focus should be on increasing the number of Republicans in the House by capturing Democrat seats, not wasting the money on punishing what he perceives as lack of loyalty. If he loses the House in the 2026 midterms, he will spend the last two years of his term fighting a Democrat House that controls the power of the purse, and which unlike the Republican House, will use it to further their agenda.
Massie is not a conservative republican. He’s a rhino, an interloper, a coward, and obviously doesn’t care how close Iran was to getting a nuke. Doesn’t understand the constitution either. Presidents before Pres. Trump have ordered attacks without congressional approval, but just because Pres. Trump ordered the attacks it’s all of a sudden “unconstitutional”. Bunch of loonies.
Massie, like Rand Paul, is counter herd instinct. Both may go against the grain, but they do so thoughtfully and care little whether they ruffle feathers.
I’m not a big fan of Massie, but if I was in his shoes and I was chased out of office in a primary campaign to a candidate funded by outsiders, I would not hesitate to run on a third party ticket in the general election.
One of the most stupid ideas ever.
I actually disagree with Massie on a fair bit myself, though I am with him re: Iran.
IIRC Trump actually paired with Liz Cheney to go after Massie in a past election. (Would be nice if Trump would learn to think twice when he’s got all the wrong team with him on a decision.)
Yes I see your point. He should try using the energy elsewhere like HOLDING the House not defeating a member 🙄
It’s much worse than that. Trump loses the house which is more likely than not, he’s going to be investigated for everything. He won’t have a moment peace including his cabinet. He thinks he likes drama, he’s seen nothing yet. He should concentrate on keeping the seats he can.
The only fissure is in your head.
Libertarians think? Who knew?
Disloyal with such small margins is unforgivable. It’s not a personal loyalty issue it’s the disloyalty to the MAGA priorities that matters. Massie & Rand have put themselves above the Country at a pivitol time.
Trump is bringing the loon-atarean wing out in the open.
Yes. Massie is ingrained in that district he has his property and lives off the grid there.
He was also the Judge Executive which you may recognize as a County Executive before he ran for Congress
He was inspired to run for that position in 2008 by Ron Paul.
What’s Massie ever done for KY or USA?
Oust him. He runs as republican and is a democrat. The Republican Party should have ability to oust liars and imposters by impeach or vote.
Thomas was known as a big Ron Paul supporter in ‘08 and ran for that County Executive (local) position. He campaigned for Rand too in 2010 .
I remember it well and had some fleeting conversations with him when he decided to run for Congress in that primary.
I asked him about U.S. Senate he said he’d unlikely want to go further than the House and it looks like he still feels the same as he’s not running for it next year
It’s worth noting he’s wealthy from his previous life as a prolific inventor/patent holder I think he also ran a tech startup which he sold so he’s a true public servant. He’s the nicest guy you could ever meet and does not deserve the abuse or opprobrium. Let’s hope he prevails
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