Massie has been on the receiving end of the brunt of Trump's anger over his efforts to force the release of Epstein-related materials, opposition to the GOP tax and spending bill in July, and his criticisms of the White House's military strikes in Iran.
I think he's one of the best presidents, if not the best president, of my lifetime, but it doesn't mean I will sit quietly and just say, "oh well, whatever you want to do."Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), on President Donald Trump's attacks
On Friday, the president ramped up his rhetoric, calling for Massie's immediate removal from Congress in a heated Truth Social post, demanding the Kentucky lawmaker be "thrown out, ASAP." The president also threw his support behind Navy veteran Ed Gallrein to challenge Massie in the midterms, should he choose to run.
Massie responded on X, writing: "Dogs don’t bark at parked cars. There’s a reason some of the world’s richest and most powerful people are trying to get me out of Congress. I’m just one of 435 votes but I bring transparency to an otherwise dark and corrupted institution of government."
Meanwhile, the president is also unhappy with Paul, who is fighting to reel in the administration's deadly strikes on Venezuelan boats.
Confronted with Trump's post — saying Paul "went really bad" and calling the Kentucky senator a "nasty little guy" — Paul appeared to laugh off the comments on NBC's Meet the Press, even as he continued to praise the president.
Dogs don’t bark at parked cars.
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) October 20, 2025
There’s a reason some of the world’s richest and most powerful people are trying to get me out of Congress.
I’m just one of 435 votes but I bring transparency to an otherwise dark and corrupted institution of government.
"I was one of his biggest defenders on impeachment and would (be) so again. I think he's one of the best presidents, if not the best president, of my lifetime, but it doesn't mean I will sit quietly and just say 'oh well, whatever you want to do,'" Paul said. "I was elected to have a voice, and so I continue to be a voice, like on the bombing of the Venezuelan boats. I think that's inappropriate."
Paul has condemned U.S. strikes on alleged drug cartel boats as counter to laws governing maritime interdictions and sought to limit strikes not authorized by Congress.