Massie Shifts Stance on America First
Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, has recently altered his perspective on his political stance, stating he now considers himself “America only” instead of “America first.” This change comes as he faces a primary challenger endorsed by former President Donald Trump.
In a Thursday interview, Massie expressed his frustration with funding foreign endeavors, emphasizing, “I’m tired of sending money overseas.” He added, “I’m ready to focus entirely on America, and I believe every member of Congress should think the same way.”
While Massie offered a nuanced view of Trump—acknowledging some aspects of the former president’s policies align with his vision—he criticized Trump’s approach to certain issues. “But when it comes to beef, he’s not America first,” he remarked, highlighting concerns over financial support for Ukraine and Israel.
Massie indicated that expenditures under both Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson have been a significant point of contention for him. He pointed out, “Why are we spending more this year than Joe Biden spent last year? We’re up about $200 billion,” attributing such overspending to rising inflation and interest rates. “And people feel it. You can’t gaslight them,” he added, noting that it’s misleading to claim that prices are falling when they’re not.
The White House, through press secretary Khush Desai, countered Massie’s claims, calling them “fake math.” Desai defended the Trump administration’s actions, claiming that a recent tax cut act reduced mandatory spending significantly, thus improving budget deficits.
Massie, on the other hand, believes that discussions in Washington around issues beyond spending are secondary. For instance, he mentioned the need to fulfill campaign promises, such as releasing documents related to Jeffrey Epstein.
Massie and Representative Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) are advocating for a House vote to release these documents, but they still need one more signature to advance the proposal. Massie alleged that Speaker Johnson has been obstructive regarding this issue.
As the political atmosphere heats up, Massie finds himself at odds with Trump, who has labeled him a “weak, pathetic RINO.” The former president is pushing for Massie’s primary rival, having previously expressed disdain for the congressman’s performance.
Despite the mounting pressure, Massie affirmed his support for Trump, saying he feels fortunate Trump won the presidency in light of what he views as the potential disaster of a Kamala Harris administration. Initially backing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in the primaries, Massie later endorsed Trump after DeSantis suspended his campaign.
When asked about his own presidential aspirations, Massie denied any interest, though he acknowledged that Trump has accomplished much during his tenure—often through executive order—and expressed a desire for Congress to engage more in decision-making processes.
