Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More
Continue in Browser
Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts.
Please enter a valid zipcode.
Save
WASHINGTON — Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Crescent Springs, has long blazed his own trail in Congress, routinely voting against spending bills, even when fellow Republicans voted for them.
But his vow to oppose a House Republican plan to keep the government funded, preventing a partial shutdown Friday night, triggered an angry response from President Donald Trump Monday night, who posted online, “HE SHOULD BE PRIMARIED, and I will lead the charge against him.”
The House narrowly passed the stopgap spending bill Tuesday evening.
Nearly all Democrats voted against it, along with Massie. It would increase spending for defense and reduces other spending below last year’s levels.
The president supports the bill, but Massie said it does not do enough to rein in spending.
Before the vote, Massie responded to the president’s threat to support a primary against him, and posted, “POTUS is spending his day attacking me and Canada. The difference is Canada will eventually cave.”
Massie previously supported Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., for president and did not endorse then-candidate Trump until 11 days before the election. He was first elected to represent the fourth congressional district in northern Kentucky in 2012 and breezed to a sixth term last year. In the last three Republican primary elections, Massie has won between 75 and 81% of the vote, according to Kentucky election data.
Though Massie previously tried to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., from his leadership position and was the only Republican to vote against him for Speaker this year, Johnson called Massie a “friend” before the vote Tuesday.
“He’s a thoughtful guy,” Johnson said. “I guess he’ll tell you he’s doing what he thinks is right on this. I just vehemently disagree with his position.”
In response to the president’s attacks, Massie created an online fundraising post saying he will run again, “because we need at least one person in Congress who won’t cave.”
