But how many more votes will he cast?
President Donald Trump threatened the political future for Massie, the staunch fiscal conservative but lone House Republican to vote against the Continuing Resolution which funds the government at present levels – Joe Biden levels – through September.
Republicans say that’s when real they can begin the process of real spending cuts through the process of budget reconciliation and a return to debate and vote for each individual initiative.
The House voted 217-213 Wednesday to approve the CR which now moves to the Senate.
“The CR is a UNIPARTY deal. It doesn’t fund the wall. It does fund USAID,” Massie wrote on X.
Critics say Massie gives no thought to the long game of politics, are as his loudest critic, Trump, might say, the art of the deal.
Trump lashed out at the Kentucky Representative, declaring that Massie should be primaried in 2026 pledging to "lead the charge against him." The President says Massie has become an automatic 'NO' vote on just about everything, despite the fact that he has always voted for Continuing Resolutions in the past.
Massie is not the first far-right Republican to feel Trump’s wrath.
Trump called a primary opponent to face Chip Roy, of Texas, last November when Roy opposed raising the debt ceiling.
"My position is simple - I am not going to raise or suspend the debt ceiling (racking up more debt) without significant & real spending cuts attached to it. I've been negotiating to that end. No apologies," Roy wrote on X.
Trump likened Massie to former Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney, who was involved with the now defunct January 6 Committee and is a staunch critic of the president. Trump helped Cheney get defeated for reelection in 2022.
Massie has fired back and is hoping to use the fire from Trump as a fundraising opportunity.
“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 X.
Opposing Trump at this stage of his second term could be tricky business, but Massie has allies.
Former Texas House member Ron Paul, a Libertarian, recalled Massie’s stance on $2 trillion in COVID spending.
“Back then, President Trump called Massie a ‘third-rate grandstander’ and a ‘disaster for America.’ Massie was correct. He was primaried for standing firm and was victorious in the election. The Covid spending helped to usher in the inflation that we're still dealing with today...not to mention all of the fraud,” Paul wrote.
Proceed with caution
Walker Wildmon is the CEO of AFA Action, the political arm of the American Family Association.
"The frustration coming from President Trump is easily understood from his perspective because one of the issues with Representative Thomas Massey, as conservative as he is when it comes to his voting record, he does quite literally vote no on every single budget proposal that comes before Congress. So, there is some frustration when members of Congress are always known for voting no,” Wildmon told AFN.
Wildmon believes opposing President Trump at this juncture does come with risk.
"Whether we like it or not, the Republican Party for now is President Trump's party. And if you're going to buck President Trump and you call yourself a Republican, you're going to face some difficulty. Now, whether this will pan out and whether Massey will be primaried, who knows. But opposing President Trump at this juncture does come with risk. And I think that's what Massey's seeing here."
Editor's Note: The American Family Association is the parent organization of the American Family News Network, which operates AFN.net.
