GOP’s Thomas Massie Shrugs Off Trump Threat, Blames Him for Causing ‘Massive Inflation’ in 2020

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) struck a defiant tone on Tuesday after he bucked President Donald Trump by voting against the House Republican’s government spending bill.

Trump promised “to lead the charge” in primarying Massie if he voted against the bill, which Massie had come out early against, arguing it largely continued to fund the government at the same levels as President Joe Biden and the Democratic-led House.

A reporter asked Massie on the steps of the Capitol about Trump’s “threats against you, a primary challenger. His campaign establishment appears to be poised to try and contest you?”

“It feels just like 2020. March 27th, 2020. When I was the only one to oppose the CARES Act, the president threatened me,” replied Massie, a long-time deficit hawk, adding:

I got 81% of the vote. And then what happened? The spending bill caused all this massive inflation that you see now.

Trump again attacked Massie on Wednesday morning on Truth Social, writing, “So Massie can vote for Debt Ceiling AND Budget to be put into the Trump Administration, making them both the Republicans problem and responsibility, but can’t give us a simple Continuing Resolution vote allowing us the time necessary to come up with a “GREAT, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL??? Republicans only “NO Vote. GRANDSTANDER!”

Massie has flipped Trump’s attacks around is now fundraising off of them. “Why don’t more Representatives stand on principle? Because telling the truth can get you in hot water. I’m going to need your help. I will run again because we need at least one person in Congress who won’t cave. Can you show support by contributing now?” he wrote on Tuesday.

On Wednesday he posted again, “Y’all sent $175,000 to my campaign in the last 36 hours! For the first time, my cash on hand is over $1,000,000. It’s a great start, but I’m going to need more if POTUS makes good on his threat to retaliate for my vote.”

House Republicans currently only have a two-seat majority in the House, which gives members willing to buck party-line votes, like Massie, additional influence in this Congress.