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An op-ed in the New York Times on Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) this week, He’s One of a Dying Breed in Congress. America Needs Him Now More Than Ever, could not have been any more sycophantic.
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The Times hasn’t endorsed a Republican presidential candidate since Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956. That means they loved the likes of Hubert Humphrey, George McGovern, Jimmy Carter twice, Walter Mondale, Michael Dukakis, Al Gore, John Kerry, Hillary Clinton, and Joe Biden twice. But since Thomas Massie is a vocal critic of President Donald Trump, he’s getting the kind of special treatment other anti-Trump Republicans from Marjorie Taylor Greene to George Conway to Mitt Romney have received.
But as for Massie’s accomplishments? Well, in the political arena, none exist. The congressman never offers anything resembling solutions or alternatives outside of pie-in-the-sky generalities. He helped oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy when a solid majority of House members approved of his performance, leaving Republicans scrambling for months.
But not long after Johnson took the gavel, Massie’s plan with Johnson was the same as with McCarthy: force Johnson out or force his resignation, then worry about the small details, such as, you know, who to actually replace him with afterward.
And despite Massie pretending to care so much, he has never offered himself up as speaker. In fact, he never offered anyone as an alternative to McCarthy or Johnson. Because that would require living in reality and understanding how math works.
Then take Massie’s vote on Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which passed by a single vote in the House in 2025 thanks to him and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA). Massie shot it down because it didn’t cut spending enough to his liking. Here’s the problem: Without certain programs in it (such as SALT reductions), the bill doesn’t pass because moderates had promised to reject it. You have to give a little to get a little. If the bill didn’t pass, as Massie desired, the result would have been a huge win for Democrats and a huge tax increase on people.
But for Massie, the possible consequences of his actions (and lack thereof) aren’t the point. It’s all about fundraising and retaining power.
“Y’all sent $175,000 to my campaign in the last 36 hours!” a jubilant Massie announced on X in 2024 after Trump rightly called him a grandstander. “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. Please help me set a 48 hour record.”
Massie has also teamed with likely 2028 presidential hopeful Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) to demand the full release of the Epstein files. This has resulted in Massie getting plenty of airtime on CNN and MS Now. But here’s a simple question: Where was Massie for four years during the Biden administration on Epstein? Where was his criticism of former Attorney General Merrick Garland in interviews or on the House floor?
An extensive search shows nothing. No speeches. No interviews on the topic. Nothing.
Trump has since endorsed former Navy SEAL and Army Ranger Ed Gallrein, also a fifth-generation farmer. With the Republican primary happening on Tuesday, Gallrein leads in a recent Quantus Insights poll, 52.8% to Massie’s 45.1%. Polymarket also shows Massie’s chances going backward, with the betting market showing a 30-point drop in his chances of winning from above 80% to below 50% as of Friday afternoon.
“Give me somebody with a warm body to beat Massie,” Trump said at a March rally for Gallrein. “And I got somebody with a warm body, and a big, beautiful brain and a great patriot. He’s unbelievable.
“I’ve dedicated my life to serving my country, and I’m ready to answer the call again,” Gallrein said at the time. “This district is Trump Country. The president doesn’t need obstacles in Congress — he needs backup.”
And Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District is absolutely a part of Trump Country. The president carried it in 2024 over Kamala Harris by capturing 67% of the vote. Massie had the luxury of running unopposed. He’ll need to earn his reelection this time around.
The Massie vs. Gallrein battle comes not long after some Indiana state senators found out what happens when opposing the sitting president. Trump has been pushing red states to employ the Democrats’ playbook in blue states and redistrict in an effort to make it more difficult for the Blue Team to take back the House. Most states have heeded the call, led by Texas, Florida, Tennessee, and South Carolina. The result could be an additional 10 to 12 House seats for the GOP, which may make all the difference.
Some Indiana Republicans, however, resisted the president’s call. Result? Trump called for all five lawmakers to be primaried. All five lost in elections earlier this month.
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The same fate may be awaiting Massie, the guy who joined Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and The Squad in opposing congressional funding for Israel’s Iron Dome in 2021. If not for that defense system, Israeli citizens and their government would be subjected to constant bombardment from enemies that surround the country. Thousands or more would have been killed. That vote thankfully survived his opposition, however, 420-9.
In the end, Kentucky voters will choose between Massie and Trump.
Given the president’s track record on this front, it’s safe to say the congressman’s perpetual “no” votes will come back to haunt him.
