Who is Thomas Massie? Trump’s nemesis who has enlisted the support of Elon Musk to take down the president’s agenda

Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie is one of a handful of Republicans on Capitol Hill who have broken with President Trump over his “one big beautiful bill” (OBBB), and he’s been on the receiving end of some unflattering Truth Social posts as a result.

Rep. Massie, elected to Congress in 2012, represents Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District, located in the northern part of the state near the Ohio border. It also happens to be the wealthiest district in the Bluegrass State.

Trump has targeted Massie on Truth Social

Massie joined forces with California Democrat Ro Khanna to introduce a War Powers Resolution in the House, aiming to limit President Trump’s ability to carry out strikes on Iran without congressional approval. The Kentucky Congressman opposes foreign intervention and the government’s practice of sending money abroad. But this wasn’t the first time Massie stirred controversy within his party over foreign policy. In August 2024, he appeared on Tucker Carlson’s show and spoke candidly about the influence of AIPAC, the pro-Israel lobbying group, on Capitol Hill. While he emphasized that he doesn’t harbor negative views of Israel, Massie said he finds the scale of Israeli lobbying efforts unusual, especially compared to other U.S. allies, who don’t maintain such a strong presence in Washington. Notable among Republicans in Washington, he does not accept campaign contributions from AIPAC. Massie’s move to rein in the president’s war powers authority, along with Massie’s vocal criticism of the OBBB, drew Trump’s ire.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump called Massie a “simple-minded ‘grandstander,’” adding:

“He is a negative force who almost always votes ‘NO,’ no matter how good something may be.”

President Donald Trump, Truth Social

Trump also accused Massie of disrespecting the military, claiming he refused to acknowledge their “brilliance and bravery” in the attack on Iran’s nuclear sites.

Massie responded on social media, writing: “The president has declared so much war on me today it should require an Act of Congress.”

He added the hashtag #sassywithmassie, which he often uses when getting a little messy online.

Massie to be primaried by a ‘MAGA patriot’

Trump announced plans to back a primary challenger against Massie in 2026—a threat he also made to North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis, who later announced he would not seek re-election.

Massie, however, has consistently won his district by 60 points or more and remains confident. He believes his opposition to the OBBB will only boost his popularity at home.

Primary threats have become a hallmark of the MAGA movement, with many moderate Republicans either losing to more radical challengers or choosing to retire rather than face defeat.

On Tuesday, July 1, Trump posted: “New poll: Anybody I Endorse beats Thomas Massie of Kentucky by 25 points. Get ready. Massie is a very bad guy!”

Massie’s opposition to the ‘one big beautiful bill’

Massie initially voted against the OBBB in the House before eventually folding. Now, as the bill returns from the Senate, he has made it clear he will vote “Nay.”

On Friday, June 27, he posted on X, calling the bill: “A fiscal suicide pact between the White House and Republicans in Congress.”

Still, he doesn’t expect enough Republicans to join Democrats in opposing the bill, which is likely to come to a vote later this week. The White House remains optimistic that Trump will sign it into law before the Fourth of July holiday.

Massie and Elon join forces

Having lost Trump’s support, Massie has aligned himself with Elon Musk, who has also been a vocal critic of the OBBB since leaving the Trump administration.

Musk posted on X that he had donated to Massie’s re-election campaign. The two have become allies in their shared opposition to the bill.

After Musk publicly rejected the legislative package, his alliance with Trump fractured. The feud cooled after the White House deployed Marines and federalized the National Guard in California. But as the bill nears passage, Musk has resumed his attacks. Trump has responded by threatening to unleash the 'Department of Government Efficiency’ (DOGE) on Musk’s portfolio of government contracts.

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