Rep. Thomas Massie is considered one of the more conservative Republicans on Capitol Hill, frequently in lockstep with his MAGA compatriots. So why does Trump loathe him?
You’d think Massie’s well-documented Republican bona fides all but guarantee his reelection in November, and certainly not a primary challenger in the deep-red state.
But the Kentucky lawmaker finds himself in Trump’s dog house for several reasons:
- Insisting the Epstein files be released
- Voting against the “Big Beautiful Bill”
- Denouncing the Iran War
His defiance of a president who demands complete fealty and offers no loyalty in return means Massie is now in serious jeopardy of losing his seat in the upcoming primary election.
What’s Massie’s deal anyway?
No matter your politics, you’ve got to admit it: Massie is an interesting character.
The 55-year-old congressman from northern Kentucky is an MIT graduate who’s a committed proponent of renewable energy, something considered sinful in today’s GOP and tantamount to heresy for a president who rails against windmills and cozies up to Big Coal & Oil.
The Massie family poses with their assault rifles for a 2021 Christmas card.
Sure, he’s a Christmas card gun nut. Yet, he’s also an ardent critic of the war in Iran, asserting that Tehran was not an imminent threat to the United States, as Trump asserts at every turn when confronted with questions about skyrocketing gas prices.
Coupled with his green-energy intellect and disdain for unnecessary war, his aforementioned push for Epstein files transparency and rejection of the “debt bomb” known as Trump’s Big beautiful bill, and you can see why Trump really hates this guy.
As such, this Blue Grass odd bird finds himself in a tough spot ahead of the May 19 primary.
He’s facing a tight primary challenger, political neophyte, former Navy SEAL, and farmer Ed Gallrein, who Trump vociferously endorses and stumped for in Kentucky.
Can Massie overcome?
Polls show it’s a really tight race heading into the primary despite the fact that tens of millions of MAGA-donor dollars have been spent on ousting Massie.
However, if he survives, Massie’s defiance could inspire other members of Congress to muster the courage to stand up to Trump, at a time when his approval numbers are at their lowest.
Though were he to lose, his fate would further cower Republicans in the House and Senate, who in response will continue to do Trump’s bidding despite his historic unpopularity.
