Former President Donald Trump renewed his attacks on Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) on November 14, following ongoing tension between the two over Massie’s voting choices and recent foreign policy views. The feud also centers on Trump’s decision to support retired Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein in the race for Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District, challenging Massie’s seat.
On Truth Social, Trump took aim at Massie’s recent marriage, mocking the quick timing and suggesting Massie has little chance of winning reelection. Massie announced on November 2 that he married Carolyn Grace Moffa, a former staffer for Senator Rand Paul, in a legal ceremony in Kentucky on October 19, followed by a Christian wedding in Pennsylvania. Carolyn has a background in agricultural policy and backed the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda.
Massie shared that his late wife, Rhonda, who passed away in June 2024 due to complications from chronic autoimmune myopathy, had known Moffa. The couple plans to live on their Kentucky farm while managing congressional work and family life, with Massie recalling that his grandson was involved in the wedding and that he proposed at the Library of Congress.
The public feud builds on months of conflict between Trump and Massie. Vice President JD Vance commented in October that Massie has frequently voted against the Republican Party when it matters most. Vance said Massie’s opposition to party priorities was a key reason Trump endorsed Gallrein. Gallrein has echoed this view, calling Massie a roadblock to Trump’s agenda and criticizing his alignment with opposing party positions. Gallrein, emphasizing his military and farming background, argues that Republicans must unite behind Trump during critical times.
Earlier this year, the disagreement turned heated when Massie opposed U.S. strikes against Iranian nuclear sites, calling them unconstitutional. Trump responded by calling Massie a “bum” and pushed for his removal from Congress, even launching a political action committee to back a challenger.
Massie has shrugged off Trump’s ongoing attacks, saying he has developed “Trump antibodies” and joked that their conflict might need congressional approval given its intensity.
This battle highlights deep divisions within the Republican Party as the 2025 elections approach, with Trump and his allies trying to reshape the GOP while some members like Massie resist the party line.
