former President Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack against Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, criticizing his voting record and vowing to campaign against him in the 2026 primary. Trump stated,”MAGA doesn’t want him,doesn’t know him,and doesn’t respect him,” in a lengthy tirade.

Trump continued his criticism, asserting that Massie “is a negative force who almost always Votes ‘NO,’ no matter how good something may be.” He further labeled Massie a “simple minded ‘grandstander’ who thinks it’s good politics for Iran to have the highest level Nuclear weapon, while at the same time yelling ‘DEATH TO AMERICA’ at every chance they get,” according to a post on Sunday.

Trump urged, “MAGA should drop this pathetic LOSER, Tom Massie, like the plague!”

Massie responded to Trump’s remarks with a post on X, quipping that the President “declared so much War on me today it should require an Act of Congress.” Massie recently joined Democratic lawmakers in expressing concerns about potential U.S. military intervention in the Middle East without congressional authorization.

Despite the 2026 election being some time away, Trump has already indicated his intention to challenge Massie and enforce party loyalty. He stated, “the good news is that we will have a fantastic American Patriot running against him in the Republican Primary, and I’ll be out in Kentucky campaigning really hard,” though he did not name a specific candidate. Trump added,”MAGA is not about lazy,grandstanding,nonproductive politicians,of which Thomas Massie is definitely one.”

Massie, known for his libertarian views, has faced primary challenges in the past. He told Axios that “any serious person considering running should spend money on an independent poll before letting swampy consultants take them for an embarrassing ride.”

Who is Thomas massie?

Thomas Massie, 54, holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering from MIT. He entered local politics in 2010, winning the election for Judge Executive of Lewis County, KY.,during the Tea Party movement.

In 2012, after then-Representative Geoff Davis announced his retirement, Massie, describing himself as a “constitutional conservative,” secured the Republican primary victory. Following Davis’s early resignation, Massie won both a special election and the general election, assuming office earlier then his fellow freshmen representatives elected in 2012.

“MAGA doesn’t want him, doesn’t know him, and doesn’t respect him.”

One of Massie’s initial actions in Congress was to vote against party leader John Boehner for speaker in January 2013, instead supporting fellow libertarian Justin Amash. (Boehner ultimately resigned in 2015.)

Massie has since gained recognition for frequently voting against bills, often diverging from his party and occasionally aligning with democrats. In 2013, Politico labeled him “Mr. NO.”

In 2016, Massie stated he would vote for trump but would work to “rein him in” if he acted unconstitutionally.