Kentucky Republican's critiques of the Iran strikes earn him President Trump's ire — and primary threats
By Josh James
June 23, 2025 at 5:19 PM EDT
Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie was among the first Republicans to hit back at the Trump administration over the decision to strike nuclear sites in Iran — posting "This is not Constitutional" to X. Massie is now dealing with a campaign to oust him from Congress.
While Massie has been part of the coalition that helped get President Donald Trump reelected, Kentucky's Fourth District representative has made a name for himself as an outspoken opponent of the administration on a handful of issues, from its signature spending bill to the move to bomb nuclear sites in Iran.
On the latter issue, Massie told CNN Sunday there was no imminent threat to the U.S., Congress should have been briefed and allowed to vote, and the president may have split his base.
https://x.com/RepThomasMassie/status/1937196458458873968
"It will, I think, fragment our party, this action that he's taken, and it's going to hurt us in the midterms," the lawmaker said. "We could lose the majority over this one issue because people become disillusioned, disaffected, apathetic, and don't show up to vote. And then the Democrats get in the majority and end up impeaching him again."
And Massie hasn't been shy about describing the Iran strikes as a broken campaign promise.
"Absolutely, [Trump] broke a campaign promise," he said. "The base will say that, although not too many of my Republican colleagues will say that. They're frankly afraid of him, and they're also afraid of the Israel lobby in Congress that's given millions and millions of dollars to so many of my colleagues."
Trump fired back with: "[Massie] is a negative force who almost always Votes ‘NO,’ no matter how good something may be. He’s 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."
Spats between Massie and Trump are not new, with the president having lobbed invectives at the congressman in social media posts in the past. But Massie has generally shrugged off the attacks.
Now those threats from Trump could turn into something more serious. Axios is reporting two key advisers to the president are launching a SUPER PAC to unseat the Kentucky Republican.
Despite the escalation of tensions with the White House, Massie has maintained a lighthearted approach online, posting that Trump has "declared so much war on me today it should require an Act of Congress." He later followed that comment with a post with: "I’m going to program my debt badge to display the number of milliseconds that have elapsed since @realDonaldTrump has tweeted at me last."
Even amid the verbal volleys, the lawmaker is holding to his position that Congress will ultimately get its say — though it will have to wait.
"Under the War Powers Act, the president is required to withdraw from hostilities in Iran within 60 days (+30 day ext.) unless he gets a vote of Congress," Massie posted.
On the latter issue, Massie told CNN Sunday there was no imminent threat to the U.S., Congress should have been briefed and allowed to vote, and the president may have split his base.
https://x.com/RepThomasMassie/status/1937196458458873968
"It will, I think, fragment our party, this action that he's taken, and it's going to hurt us in the midterms," the lawmaker said. "We could lose the majority over this one issue because people become disillusioned, disaffected, apathetic, and don't show up to vote. And then the Democrats get in the majority and end up impeaching him again."
And Massie hasn't been shy about describing the Iran strikes as a broken campaign promise.
"Absolutely, [Trump] broke a campaign promise," he said. "The base will say that, although not too many of my Republican colleagues will say that. They're frankly afraid of him, and they're also afraid of the Israel lobby in Congress that's given millions and millions of dollars to so many of my colleagues."
Trump fired back with: "[Massie] is a negative force who almost always Votes ‘NO,’ no matter how good something may be. He’s 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."
Spats between Massie and Trump are not new, with the president having lobbed invectives at the congressman in social media posts in the past. But Massie has generally shrugged off the attacks.
Now those threats from Trump could turn into something more serious. Axios is reporting two key advisers to the president are launching a SUPER PAC to unseat the Kentucky Republican.
Despite the escalation of tensions with the White House, Massie has maintained a lighthearted approach online, posting that Trump has "declared so much war on me today it should require an Act of Congress." He later followed that comment with a post with: "I’m going to program my debt badge to display the number of milliseconds that have elapsed since @realDonaldTrump has tweeted at me last."
Even amid the verbal volleys, the lawmaker is holding to his position that Congress will ultimately get its say — though it will have to wait.
"Under the War Powers Act, the president is required to withdraw from hostilities in Iran within 60 days (+30 day ext.) unless he gets a vote of Congress," Massie posted.