On November 14, President Donald Trump reignited his criticisms of Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) on Truth Social, intensifying their ongoing conflict. The tension stems from Massie’s voting history, his recent stances on foreign affairs, and Trump’s endorsement of retired Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein for Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District seat.
Trump’s remarks came shortly after Massie revealed his marriage to Carolyn Grace Moffa, a former aide to Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), on November 2. The couple legally wed in Kentucky on October 19 and later celebrated with a Christian ceremony in Pennsylvania.
Massie highlighted Moffa’s early advocacy for the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative during her tenure with Senator Paul until 2016. He reminisced about her visits to his Kentucky farm, which he shared with his late wife, Rhonda. The newlyweds plan to continue living on the farm, balancing their congressional responsibilities with travel as necessary.
The wedding featured familial touches, with Massie’s grandson participating as the ring bearer. He also shared how he proposed on the Library of Congress steps. Rhonda Massie passed away in June 2024 due to complications from chronic autoimmune myopathy.
This latest development in the Trump-Massie rift follows months of discord, marked by Vice President JD Vance’s remarks at an October Turning Point USA event. Vance criticized Massie’s unreliability in crucial votes, citing his frequent divergence from party lines as a source of internal strife. This behavior, Vance argued, was a major factor in Trump’s decision to support Gallrein, highlighting Massie’s consistent departure from GOP leadership’s objectives.
He also highlighted family involvement in the ceremony, including his grandson serving as ring bearer, and recounted proposing on the steps of the Library of Congress. Rhonda Massie died in June 2024 from respiratory complications related to chronic autoimmune myopathy.
The latest post from Trump follows months of friction between the president and Massie, along with comments from Vice President JD Vance. At a Turning Point USA event in October, Vance said Republicans had repeatedly been unable to rely on Massie during pivotal votes and argued that his frequent opposition to the party had created significant internal conflict. Vance explained those patterns were a key reason Trump backed Gallrein, underscoring that Massie’s voting record routinely diverges from the priorities of GOP leadership.
Gallrein has echoed those critiques in multiple appearances, including on – News Saturday. The Navy SEAL veteran and generational farmer has argued that Massie functions as a “roadblock” to Trump’s agenda, asserting that the congressman aligns with opposing party positions on consequential legislation.
Gallrein has characterized Massie as a “career politician,” contrasting that with his own emphasis on service and national security experience. He also stressed that Trump’s second term would offer only a limited window to implement major policies, adding that Republicans must avoid internal divisions during what he considers a critical time for the nation.
Trump and Massie clashed this summer over U.S. action targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities. Massie criticized the “massive precision strikes” on the Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz sites as unconstitutional. Trump responded by labeling Massie a “bum” and calling for his removal from office, part of the same period in which his campaign launched a political action committee aimed at supporting a primary challenge.
Massie has responded to Trump’s continuous pushback by describing himself as having developed “Trump antibodies.” He suggested that Trump’s repeated attacks no longer fazed him and joked that the intensity of the feud might require congressional authorization.
