Trump goes nuclear on Republican after Iran war powers slapdown, vows to back primary foe: ‘MAGA doesn't want him'
President Trump unleashed his fury on libertarian-leaning Rep. Thomas Massie and vowed to prop up a primary challenge after the Kentuckian co-introduced a measure to rein in his war powers.
Trump, who has long been vexed by Massie (R-Ky.) in the past on a host of issues, ripped him as a 'pathetic loser' during a fiery Truth Social screed.
'Massie is weak, ineffective, and votes 'NO' on virtually everything put before him (Rand Paul, Jr.), no matter how good something may be,' Trump fumed on Truth Social Sunday.
'Massie should drop his fake act and start putting America First, but he doesn't know how to get there — he doesn't have a clue!' he added. 'MAGA should drop this pathetic LOSER, Tom Massie, like the plague!'
'The good news is that we will have a wonderful American Patriot running against him in the Republican Primary, and I'll be out in Kentucky campaigning really hard.'
3 Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie has drawn President Trump's ire in the past.
CBS/Face the Nation
3 President Trump had warned Iran that he would deal with its nuclear program the easy way or the hard way.
AP
Massie voted last month against the House version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which is intended to be the president's signature legislative achievement of the year and possibly his second term.
The two have butted heads repeatedly in the past. In 2020, Massie opposed a $2 trillion emergency COVID-19 relief measure intended to avert a steep recession, drawing Trump's wrath.
Last week, Massie banded together with Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) in rolling out a War Powers Resolution to rein in Trump's ability to strike Iran.
That measure has seemingly gained more steam in Congress in the wake of Trump's strikes against Tehran's Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow nuclear facilities. Massie quickly dubbed the move unconstitutional.
Massie joined Khanna for an interview on CBS' 'Face the Nation' Sunday to promote that measure.
'I represent part of the coalition that elected President Trump. We were tired of endless wars in the Middle East, and tired of wars in Eastern Europe,' Massie said on the program.
'They should have called us all back,' he went on. 'And, frankly, we should have debated this war powers resolution that Ro Khanna and I offered, instead of staying on vacation and doing fundraisers, and saying, 'Oh, well, the President's got this under control, we're going to cede our constitutional authority.''
3 Operation Midnight Hammer was intended to wipe out Iran's nuclear capabilities.
Getty Images
Trump has been adamant that the strikes against Iran were necessary and has long contended that the theocratic regime cannot be permitted to obtain a nuclear weapon.
'MAGA is not about lazy, grandstanding, nonproductive politicians, of which Thomas Massie is definitely one,' Trump further fumed.
'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,' Trump continued. 'Iran has killed and maimed thousands of Americans.'
Massie's office didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
Earlier this month, Trump had lashed out at Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) over his opposition to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Like his fellow Kentuckian Massie, Paul raised concerns about the megabill's impact on the debt.
The duo has a knack for voting against big-ticket GOP items and criticizing US involvement in foreign entanglements.
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