Trump pressures Rep. Massie on government spending bill vote as government shutdown looms
By Shepherd Snyder
March 11, 2025 at 4:33 PM EDT
President Donald Trump is putting pressure on Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky) after the northern Kentucky congressman voiced his plans to vote against a government spending bill.
Congress has until Friday to pass the GOP’s short-term spending bill to avoid a government shutdown. Massie said on X, formerly known as Twitter, the proposal would continue to fund “waste, fraud and abuse.”
A Truth Social post from Trump called Massie a “grandstander” in response. Trump said he would “lead the charge” against Massie to be primaried in 2026.
“Congressman Thomas Massie, of beautiful Kentucky, is an automatic “NO” vote on just about everything, despite the fact that he has always voted for Continuing Resolutions in the past. HE SHOULD BE PRIMARIED, and I will lead the charge against him,” the post reads.
Massie said the post was an attempt to control his voting card, and that he wouldn’t cave in response.
“Someone thinks they can control my voting card by threatening my re-election. Guess what? Doesn’t work on me. Three times I’ve had a challenger who tried to be more MAGA than me. None busted 25% because my constituents prefer transparency and principles over blind allegiance,” Massie said on X.
A no vote from Massie himself wouldn’t stop the spending bill from passing the House. But, it could put the bill at risk with other Republican dissenters. It would need a simple majority to pass the House before it moves to the Senate. The Republican Party controls the House by only four lawmakers.
Update, 6:18 p.m.: The U.S. House of Representatives passed the spending bill with a 217-213 vote. Massie voted "no," while Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) voted yes. It now heads to the Senate.
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Congress has until Friday to pass the GOP’s short-term spending bill to avoid a government shutdown. Massie said on X, formerly known as Twitter, the proposal would continue to fund “waste, fraud and abuse.”
A Truth Social post from Trump called Massie a “grandstander” in response. Trump said he would “lead the charge” against Massie to be primaried in 2026.
“Congressman Thomas Massie, of beautiful Kentucky, is an automatic “NO” vote on just about everything, despite the fact that he has always voted for Continuing Resolutions in the past. HE SHOULD BE PRIMARIED, and I will lead the charge against him,” the post reads.
Massie said the post was an attempt to control his voting card, and that he wouldn’t cave in response.
“Someone thinks they can control my voting card by threatening my re-election. Guess what? Doesn’t work on me. Three times I’ve had a challenger who tried to be more MAGA than me. None busted 25% because my constituents prefer transparency and principles over blind allegiance,” Massie said on X.
A no vote from Massie himself wouldn’t stop the spending bill from passing the House. But, it could put the bill at risk with other Republican dissenters. It would need a simple majority to pass the House before it moves to the Senate. The Republican Party controls the House by only four lawmakers.
Update, 6:18 p.m.: The U.S. House of Representatives passed the spending bill with a 217-213 vote. Massie voted "no," while Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) voted yes. It now heads to the Senate.
** WEKU is working hard to be a leading source for public service, and fact-based journalism. Monthly supporters are the top funding source for this growing nonprofit news organization. Please join others in your community who support WEKU by making your donation.