Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, says President Donald Trump “threatened” him for refusing to back the GOP’s massive new spending bill — a package Massie says will explode the national debt.
“I need your help,” Massie posted Tuesday on social media platform X. “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.” He linked to a donation page for his reelection campaign.
Massie has been one of the few Republicans openly challenging the party’s trillion-dollar spending plan — the same one Trump has been promoting on Capitol Hill. Dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” the legislation includes sweeping tax changes and domestic priorities tied to Trump’s political agenda.
Trump, speaking to reporters at the Capitol, took a direct shot at Massie.
“I don’t think Thomas Massie understands government,” Trump said. “I think he’s a grandstander, frankly. I think he should be voted out of office.”
Massie didn’t back down. In an interview with CNN’s Manu Raju, he dismissed the White House’s claim that the bill is deficit-neutral. “That’s a joke,” Massie said. “We’re going to add $20 trillion dollars to the debt over the next 10 years, which is three and a half to $5 trillion more than would have been added otherwise.”
The bill includes a proposed $4 trillion increase to the debt ceiling, which would allow the government to keep borrowing through at least the next two and a half years. The Treasury Department has warned the U.S. risks defaulting on its more than $36 trillion national debt if Congress doesn’t act soon.
The legislation has sparked intense debate among Republicans, with internal fights over Medicaid cuts and state and local tax (SALT) deduction caps delaying progress. Trump made a rare visit to the Capitol Tuesday to try to rally support among both moderates and hardliners.
Massie, known for opposing big spending from both parties, has clashed with Trump before but remained popular in his conservative district. Now, he’s warning voters that the pressure is escalating — and it’s coming from the top.
“Can you contribute to my reelection at this link?” he asked in his post, directly tying Trump’s attack to an effort to unseat him.
