Tensions within the Republican Party escalated this weekend after President Donald Trump publicly rebuked Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie over his opposition to U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Trump, speaking through Truth Social, went so far as to threaten political retaliation, stating he would support a primary challenger against Massie in the upcoming GOP race.
The rift stems from Massie’s vocal disapproval of the U.S. airstrikes launched on June 21, which targeted three key Iranian nuclear sites — Fordo, Natanz, and Esfahan — using advanced B-2 bombers equipped with Massive Ordnance Penetrators. Massie labeled the strikes “not Constitutional” on social media shortly after they were announced and further criticized the action during a CBS “Face the Nation” appearance, where he accused neoconservatives and the military-industrial complex of pushing for endless wars.
Massie, who identifies with the libertarian wing of the Republican Party, argued that his “side of the MAGA base” consists of non-interventionists who are “tired from all these wars.”
President Trump responded forcefully, stating that Massie “is not MAGA” despite claiming otherwise. “Actually, MAGA doesn’t want him, doesn’t know him, and doesn’t respect him,” Trump wrote. He accused the congressman of being a “negative force” who routinely votes against even beneficial legislation.
The two Republicans had clashed previously over foreign policy, and Massie, alongside Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California, recently introduced a resolution seeking to prohibit U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict without congressional approval.
Calling the June 21 bombing campaign a “spectacular military success,” Trump labeled Massie a “lightweight” and “ineffective” lawmaker. He also criticized Massie’s recent vote against a key tax bill in the House of Representatives, warning that such dissent could lead to widespread tax increases if the bill fails to pass.
“Tom Massie is a pathetic loser,” Trump wrote. “MAGA should drop him like the plague.”
The dispute underscores a growing divide within the Republican Party between Trump-aligned interventionists and a libertarian faction pushing for restrained U.S. foreign policy. As the 2026 primary season approaches, Massie may face stiff opposition not only from within his district but from Trump’s influential political base.
