Iran war gives Massie a primary opening as Trump drops into his district
What's the endgame here?
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) is in the fight of his political life, but President Donald Trump’s Iran war might have given the libertarian gadfly the issue he most wants to contest in a primary election.
Trump would not deliberately help Massie after his remarkably personal attacks against the congressman and even his new wife last month. But Operation Epic Fury has provided Massie, a longtime critic of interventionist foreign policy, with the opportunity to portray himself as an independent representative for Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District in Washington, D.C.
“What I tell constituents is: whether you support the war or not, our troops deserve a congressional debate about objectives of the war, so that when they achieve the mission they can come home instead of being enlisted into a forever war with moving goalposts and unrealistic terms of engagement,” Massie told the Washington Examiner on Tuesday.
Massie and Trump’s relationship has deteriorated since the start of the president’s second term. The nine-term congressman and former engineer has criticized Trump for his penchant for federal spending, particularly through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, before pivoting to his perceived lack of transparency regarding the Jeffrey Epstein files. Now, Massie has set his sights on the U.S.-Israel military offensive against Iran.
Yet, it’s not going unchallenged. Massie and his Trump-recruited Republican primary opponent Ed Gallrein are both using the Iran war as a talking point in their campaigns ahead of the May 19 GOP primary.
For example, Massie introduced a war powers resolution in the House last week and told his supporters, “If I weren’t in Washington, it’s possible Congress would escape its constitutional duties.”
“I’m not the only Republican who campaigned on putting America First, I’m just the one who’s keeping his word,” he later wrote on X.
Massie’s resolution was voted down, 212-219, as was a Senate counterpart introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), 47-53. A second Senate war powers resolution is in the works, according to Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ).
Gallrein, a farmer and former Navy SEAL captain whom Trump asked to primary Massie, has taken to his own social media accounts to boost the war. Describing himself as “a career professional military officer,” Gallrein has said the “decisive action, clear objectives, and overwhelming strength save American lives and prevent larger wars, death, and destruction.
“Our district deserves a congressman …
What's the endgame here?
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) is in the fight of his political life, but President Donald Trump’s Iran war might have given the libertarian gadfly the issue he most wants to contest in a primary election.
Trump would not deliberately help Massie after his remarkably personal attacks against the congressman and even his new wife last month. But Operation Epic Fury has provided Massie, a longtime critic of interventionist foreign policy, with the opportunity to portray himself as an independent representative for Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District in Washington, D.C.
“What I tell constituents is: whether you support the war or not, our troops deserve a congressional debate about objectives of the war, so that when they achieve the mission they can come home instead of being enlisted into a forever war with moving goalposts and unrealistic terms of engagement,” Massie told the Washington Examiner on Tuesday.
Massie and Trump’s relationship has deteriorated since the start of the president’s second term. The nine-term congressman and former engineer has criticized Trump for his penchant for federal spending, particularly through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, before pivoting to his perceived lack of transparency regarding the Jeffrey Epstein files. Now, Massie has set his sights on the U.S.-Israel military offensive against Iran.
Yet, it’s not going unchallenged. Massie and his Trump-recruited Republican primary opponent Ed Gallrein are both using the Iran war as a talking point in their campaigns ahead of the May 19 GOP primary.
For example, Massie introduced a war powers resolution in the House last week and told his supporters, “If I weren’t in Washington, it’s possible Congress would escape its constitutional duties.”
“I’m not the only Republican who campaigned on putting America First, I’m just the one who’s keeping his word,” he later wrote on X.
Massie’s resolution was voted down, 212-219, as was a Senate counterpart introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), 47-53. A second Senate war powers resolution is in the works, according to Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ).
Gallrein, a farmer and former Navy SEAL captain whom Trump asked to primary Massie, has taken to his own social media accounts to boost the war. Describing himself as “a career professional military officer,” Gallrein has said the “decisive action, clear objectives, and overwhelming strength save American lives and prevent larger wars, death, and destruction.
“Our district deserves a congressman …
Iran war gives Massie a primary opening as Trump drops into his district
What's the endgame here?
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) is in the fight of his political life, but President Donald Trump’s Iran war might have given the libertarian gadfly the issue he most wants to contest in a primary election.
Trump would not deliberately help Massie after his remarkably personal attacks against the congressman and even his new wife last month. But Operation Epic Fury has provided Massie, a longtime critic of interventionist foreign policy, with the opportunity to portray himself as an independent representative for Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District in Washington, D.C.
“What I tell constituents is: whether you support the war or not, our troops deserve a congressional debate about objectives of the war, so that when they achieve the mission they can come home instead of being enlisted into a forever war with moving goalposts and unrealistic terms of engagement,” Massie told the Washington Examiner on Tuesday.
Massie and Trump’s relationship has deteriorated since the start of the president’s second term. The nine-term congressman and former engineer has criticized Trump for his penchant for federal spending, particularly through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, before pivoting to his perceived lack of transparency regarding the Jeffrey Epstein files. Now, Massie has set his sights on the U.S.-Israel military offensive against Iran.
Yet, it’s not going unchallenged. Massie and his Trump-recruited Republican primary opponent Ed Gallrein are both using the Iran war as a talking point in their campaigns ahead of the May 19 GOP primary.
For example, Massie introduced a war powers resolution in the House last week and told his supporters, “If I weren’t in Washington, it’s possible Congress would escape its constitutional duties.”
“I’m not the only Republican who campaigned on putting America First, I’m just the one who’s keeping his word,” he later wrote on X.
Massie’s resolution was voted down, 212-219, as was a Senate counterpart introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), 47-53. A second Senate war powers resolution is in the works, according to Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ).
Gallrein, a farmer and former Navy SEAL captain whom Trump asked to primary Massie, has taken to his own social media accounts to boost the war. Describing himself as “a career professional military officer,” Gallrein has said the “decisive action, clear objectives, and overwhelming strength save American lives and prevent larger wars, death, and destruction.
“Our district deserves a congressman …
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