The debate over whether a conservative congressman was principled or a “GRANDSTANDER” sparked questions as to the merit of a primary threat thrown down by the president.
Before skipping town early with the approval of House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), the House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution to fund the government through September with a 217-213 vote. While Maine Rep. Jared Golden was the only defector from the Democratic Party, Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie did the same from the Republican side of the aisle in the face of threats from President Donald Trump.
Overnight, after the bill had passed and made its way to the Senate, the president celebrated before returning to the animus directed at Massie.
In a Truth Social post, Trump insisted, “So Massie can vote for Debt Ceiling AND Budget to be put into the Trump Administration, making them both the Republicans problem and responsibility, but can’t give us a simple Continuing Resolution vote allowing us the time necessary to come up with a ‘GREAT, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL??? Republicans only ‘NO Vote. GRANDSTANDER!”
Similarly, the president’s 2024 co-campaign manager, Chris LaCivita, emphasized a threat that a primary challenge was looming by captioning one of the congressman’s objections to the CR, “Tick tock Tommie.”
To that, Massie reminded, “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.”
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. https://t.co/qBXNQmlIN4
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) March 10, 2025
Meanwhile, the president maintained that the Kentucky lawmaker’s stance on the debt ceiling was “A catastrophic mistake!” and proceeded to liken Massie to former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney (R), asserting on Truth Social, “Now, and virtually on every other vote, he’s a very simple, ‘NO.’ He can’t even approve a Contining Resolution when he approved them many times during his career as a ‘Congressman.’ Thomas Massie is a GRANDSTANDER, and the Great People of Kentucky are going to be watching a very interesting Primary in the not too distant future!”
“HE SHOULD BE PRIMARIED, and I will lead the charge against him. He’s just another GRANDSTANDER, who’s too much trouble, and not worth the fight,” slammed Trump.
In addition to presenting an explainer video that called out more political theater, asserting that a deal had already been struck between congressional Republicans and Democrats that made passage through the Senate clearing the 60-vote threshold a guarantee with help from the minority, Massie decried the representation of his record by the president.
“This tweet from Trump’s account is very misleading. I never voted for a CR that became law. I did vote for a CR under [then-House Speaker Kevin] McCarthy that included an 8% cut to all discretionary spending, but unfortunately that CR did not become law,” he argued. “Do research and you’ll find I’ve been consistent.”
This tweet from Trump’s account is very misleading.
I never voted for a CR that became law. I did vote for a CR under McCarthy that included an 8% cut to all discretionary spending, but unfortunately that CR did not become law.
Do research and you’ll find I’ve been consistent. pic.twitter.com/XSEFGvsbFE
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) March 11, 2025
As Johnson agreed to disagree with Massie and tempered talk of a primary fight by stating, “Look, I’m in the incumbent protection program here. That’s what I do,” many others challenged the virtue of Trump expending political capital on the conservative lawmaker when any number of establishment RINO’s remained at large.
Grabien founder Tom Elliot said in part, “Trump 2.0 came out of the gate strong but unfortunately is now lapsing into all of his old vices: Expending finite political capital waging war against conservative Republicans as well as non-hostile countries like Canada & Mexico, pointlessly kneecapping an already fragile U.S. economy — all of which offers Democrats an opportunity to simply sit back & enjoy the show.”
Likewise, with the momentum of accomplishments on his side that included strides in border security, DOGE, and the ongoing purge of woke ideology, Townhall’s Matt Vespa stated, “I understand why Trump want to uproot party members that could be a problem, but is this an unforced error? Eye on the prize sir: passing the budget reconciliation package.”
Further, syndicated radio host Dana Loesch called out, “I wonder what it would look like if POTUS sided with Massie and used his influence and machine to go after big-spending Republicans betraying voters. If POTUS threatened to primary those GOP and targeted weak Dems into giving up supporting votes. He has the influence.”
Trump 2.0 came out of the gate strong but unfortunately is now lapsing into all of his old vices: Expending finite political capital waging war against conservative Republicans as well as non-hostile countries like Canada & Mexico, pointlessly kneecapping an already fragile U.S.…
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) March 11, 2025
I wonder what it would look like if POTUS sided with Massie and used his influence and machine to go after big-spending Republicans betraying voters. If POTUS threatened to primary those GOP and targeted weak Dems into giving up supporting votes. He has the influence.
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) March 11, 2025
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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