On November 14, President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to criticize Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), intensifying an ongoing public dispute over Massie’s voting history, his recent stances on foreign policy, and Trump’s endorsement of retired Navy SEAL Ed Garline in Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District.
Trump stated:
Is Thomas Massie, often referred to as Rand Paul Jr. for his frequent opposition to the Republican Party, married yet? That was quick! It’s no surprise that polls show he has less than an 8% chance of winning. Anyway, good luck to Thomas and his wife—she’s in for quite the ride!
The president’s comments followed Massie’s recent announcement. On November 2, he revealed that he had married Carolyn Grace Moffa, a former aide to Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky). They tied the knot legally in Kentucky on October 19, later celebrating with a Christian ceremony in Pennsylvania.
Massie mentioned that Moffa had worked on Sen. Paul’s agricultural policy until 2016 and was an early backer of the Making America Healthy (MAHA) agenda. He recalled visiting Moffa and his late wife Rhonda’s Kentucky farm years ago, noting that the couple plans to live on that farm while traveling for congressional duties.
He shared that his family attended the wedding, including his grandson who was a ring bearer, and revealed he proposed at the Library of Congress. Rhonda Massey passed away in June 2024 due to respiratory complications linked to a chronic autoimmune myopathy.
Trump’s latest remarks come amid ongoing tension between him and Massie. Vice President JD Vance has also weighed in, mentioning at a Turning Point USA event in October that Republicans have struggled to count on Massie during key votes, highlighting how his frequent disagreements with the party have led to significant internal strife. Vance pointed out that this was a key factor in Trump endorsing Garline, emphasizing how Massie’s voting record often conflicts with the priorities of Republican leadership.
Garline echoed these criticisms in an interview, labeling Massie as an “obstacle” to Trump’s policy goals while suggesting that his views align more with opposing positions on important legislation. He described Massie as a “career politician,” contrasting that with his own emphasis on service and national security. He also noted that time is running short for Trump to implement major policies during a potential second term, underscoring the need for the Republican Party to remain unified at this crucial moment for the nation.
This summer, Massie criticized the U.S. military strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, referring to them as unconstitutional. In response, Trump denounced Massie as a “bad guy” and called for him to be ousted from office, coinciding with a period when his campaign was actively seeking support for the primary through a political action committee.
In light of Trump’s ongoing criticism, Massie remarked that he has developed what he humorously called the “Trump antibody,” suggesting that he is no longer affected by the onslaught of attacks and jokingly implied that the feud might even need Congressional approval.
