Trump Vows to Lead Effort to Oust Rep. Thomas Massie:
President Trump declared on Monday that he will “lead the charge” to remove Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) after the libertarian congressman refused to support the Republican government’s funding bill.
Why It’s Significant: Known for his staunch libertarian views, Massie has consistently clashed with both Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) by opposing critical votes, threatening the passage of major GOP legislation.
Trump posted on Truth Social, criticizing Massie as someone who “automatically votes ‘NO’ on nearly everything” and suggested that Massie should face a primary challenger. He compared him to former Rep. Liz Cheney, a Republican Trump successfully helped oust after she became a key figure in the Jan. 6 investigation.
Background: This isn’t the first time Trump has attempted to challenge Massie. However, Massie has fended off previous efforts to unseat him. In response to Trump’s comments, Massie expressed confidence that a Trump-backed challenger wouldn’t succeed. He pointed out that in past primary battles, none of his opponents garnered more than 25% of the vote, highlighting that his constituents value “transparency and principles” over unwavering loyalty.
Massie opposed the short-term government funding bill because it preserved federal funding at 2024 levels without implementing the spending cuts he supports. His continued opposition to key GOP votes has caused difficulty for Speaker Johnson, as Massie’s votes have become increasingly vital in the tightly controlled House.
Most notably, Massie did not back Johnson’s bid for Speaker on January 3, nor did he vote for the GOP’s budget bill last month, solidifying his reputation as a persistent obstacle to GOP leadership.