‘I Was Threatened by Trump Today’: House Republican Asks for Donations After President Goes After Him

Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via AP Images

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) made an appeal for campaign donations on social media on Tuesday night, hours after President Donald Trump labeled him a “grandstander.”

Massie, a longtime deficit hawk who votes against most bills no matter which party proposes them, said House Republicans’ spending bill will exacerbate the deficit.

“We’re going to add $20 trillion to the debt over the next 10 years, which is three and a half to $5 trillion more than would have been added otherwise,” he told CNN’s Manu Raju on Tuesday.

“They say it’s deficit-neutral,” Raju said of Republicans’ rhetoric on the bill.

“Now that’s a joke,” Massie replied.

Unsurprisingly, Trump was not happy about Massie’s opposition to the bill.

“I don’t think Thomas Massie understands government,” the president said during a press gaggle. “I think he’s a grandstander, frankly. He’ll probably vote. We don’t even talk to him much. I think you should be voted out of office.”

Sensing an opportunity, Massie took to X to ask for donations.

“I need your help,” he tweeted. “For having the audacity to say this bill does NOT repeal the green new deal, but DOES increase the deficit and debt substantially, I was threatened by Trump today. Can you contribute to my reelection at this link?”

Trump and Massie have had a love/hate relationship dating back to the president’s first term in 2020 when the lawmaker opposed the massive $2 trillion COVID-19 stimulus bill. After calling Massie a “third rate Grandstander,” Trump quote-tweeted a post from former Secretary of State John Kerry, who wrote, “Breaking news: Congressman Massie has tested positive for being an asshole. He must be quarantined to prevent the spread of his massive stupidity.”

The president quoted the post by saying, “Never knew John Kerry had such a good sense of humor! Very impressed!”

Nonetheless, two years later Trump endorsed Massie for reelection in the Republican primary, which the congressman proudly touted.

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