{"id":3208,"date":"2026-05-25T09:32:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T09:32:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/?p=3208"},"modified":"2026-05-25T09:32:02","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T09:32:02","slug":"thomas-massie-bashes-republicans-trumps-ballroom-after-primary-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/?p=3208","title":{"rendered":"Thomas Massie bashes Republicans, Trump&#8217;s ballroom after primary loss"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Outgoing Rep. Thomas Massie\u00a0slammed his fellow Republican members of Congress and\u00a0President Donald Trump\u00a0during the May 24 edition of &#8220;Meet the Press,&#8221; less than a week after losing to a Trump-backed primary challenger in his Kentucky district.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">After serving seven terms in the House, the maverick Massie was defeated in a May 19 race by Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The incumbent told NBC host Kristen Welker that he believes he was unseated because of his support for releasing the government&#8217;s Epstein files, including his Epstein Transparency Act legislation. The Kentucky lawmaker authored the bill \u2212 which sought to shed light on federal materials about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein \u2212 with Democratic Rep.\u00a0Ro Khanna.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"mb-4\" title=\"youtube embed content\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DgmyPcafYX4?feature=oembed\" width=\"100%\" height=\"auto\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><span class=\"exclude-from-newsgate\"><strong>GOP maverick Thomas Massie falls to\u00a0<\/strong>Donald Trump&#8217;s purge: takeaways<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"max-md:faux-bleed mb-4 bg-accent\/2 pb-5 md:invisible md:mb-0 md:h-0 md:overflow-hidden md:pb-0\">\n<div class=\"py-2 text-center text-xs uppercase\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;I think the biggest crime I committed against the swamp, Kristen, was showing the American people that somebody on the right could join somebody on the left and get something done, which is releasing the Epstein Files,&#8221; Massie said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Americans on both sides of the aisle have called for the government to share more information about the disgraced financier. The president signed legislation last year requiring the release of documents, but some critics say more should be available to the public.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Trump and Epstein were publicly friends decades ago, but they had a falling out in the early 2000s. Trump has long denied any wrongdoing, and he&#8217;s never been charged with a crime in connection with Epstein.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Massie&#8217;s loss arrived one week after fellow Republican and Louisiana\u00a0Sen. Bill Cassidy also lost his reelection bid after Trump urged voters to\u00a0unseat him.<\/p>\n<div class=\"max-md:faux-bleed mb-4 bg-accent\/2 pb-5 md:invisible md:mb-0 md:h-0 md:overflow-hidden md:pb-0\">\n<div class=\"py-2 text-center text-xs uppercase\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Rep. Julia Letlow, a House colleague of Massie, garnered the most votes and headed to a runoff with state Treasurer John Fleming. Both races were seen as a check on Trump&#8217;s influence among Republican primary voters amid sinking approval ratings with the general public.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">But Massie hasn&#8217;t only criticized the Trump administration over the Epstein files. He has also pointed out that Trump&#8217;s signature\u00a0One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which\u00a0he was one of two Republicans to oppose,\u00a0added about\u00a0$3.8 trillion to the deficit.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">&#8216;Absolutely worth it&#8217;<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Massie said during his &#8220;Meet the Press&#8221; interview that he believes it was &#8220;absolutely worth it for me&#8221; to challenge Trump and other Republicans, even after losing his House district.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/hVWu86srWqGrgzPbuUjKBA--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY4OTtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/usa_today_news_641\/a9a3d777c46dc3032aa5d3605f518c98\" alt=\"Rep. Thomas Massie speaks November 18, 2025, along with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein as the House prepared to vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act.\" width=\"960\" height=\"689\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"15\" data-y-link-id=\"1gy18yw1ssow3w0b5hfl\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div>Rep. Thomas Massie speaks November 18, 2025, along with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein as the House prepared to vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act.<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><span class=\"exclude-from-newsgate\"><strong>Epstein files updates: Senate\u00a0<\/strong>unanimously agrees to release records, Trump to sign deal<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"max-md:faux-bleed mb-4 bg-accent\/2 pb-5 md:invisible md:mb-0 md:h-0 md:overflow-hidden md:pb-0\">\n<div class=\"py-2 text-center text-xs uppercase\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;Some people on the left have Trump derangement syndrome, they call it TDS,&#8221; Massie said, referencing a\u00a0frequent Trump insult. &#8220;But there&#8217;s a growing number of people on the right who have a form of TDS called Trump disappointment syndrome.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"mb-4\">\n<div id=\"recirc-470feb94-aff7-3446-bb57-ba28c56891f8\" class=\"mb-4\">\n<div class=\"grid gap-4 lg:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-rows-[auto_auto_1fr]\">\n<div class=\"relative w-full\">\n<div id=\"_r_3j_\" class=\"absolute inset-0 rounded-[4px] focus-within:ring-2 focus-within:ring-link trc_related_container tbl-trecs-container trc_spotlight_widget trc_elastic trc_elastic_stream-i-v3\" data-placement-name=\"taboola-article-center\">\n<div class=\"trc_rbox_container\">\n<div>\n<div id=\"trc_wrapper_9928027633\" class=\"trc_rbox stream-i-v3 trc-content-sponsored\">\n<div id=\"outer_9928027633\" class=\"trc_rbox_outer\">\n<div id=\"rbox-t2m\" class=\"trc_rbox_div trc_rbox_border_elm\">\n<div id=\"internal_trc_9928027633\">\n<div class=\"videoCube trc_spotlight_item origin-default textItem thumbnail_start videoCube_1_child syndicatedItem trc-first-recommendation trc-spotlight-first-recommendation\" data-item-id=\"~~V1~~-2948014764277938329~~fz-TDX5sDHH6o_QS7HssyYpEdBL33p3ogXPkffrfE9zpZyC7dGVdvKnSHsaHrNsFr6KHfhMNDc_prPncQ7T8QJoTzNGcxv2FGi93wm-fDS0Sa4AoReuTZzMT_we9M0oubtZ9biqnXkaawXiJmcupm_-xj4qJcPfDaS6ERcKg2cjyE6lF891RHWn0GQOj_5MSSJMdPWARFrElq0Z2LT7nmbe6BR75SIGAtoLgqqcRMeCEj9M3CJT1xs9RRSllne-rN3fl2D-vI0jA0PyMPXRae9scmKO4Ni_d5Q2pQwpHFl8sO6NhFlzoAjTXxxCNuHiAJB1VgdtbJKevhXL3alWR1w\" data-item-title=\"With temperatures hitting 95\u00b0F, this is the mini air conditioner everyone\u2019s buying in the U.S\" data-item-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.taboola.com\/libtrc\/static\/thumbnails\/e47b8ff2fbde142e8d77397044ce1354.jpg\" data-item-syndicated=\"true\">\n<div class=\"thumbBlock_holder\">\n<div class=\"videoCube_aspect\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"video-label-box trc-main-label\"><span class=\"video-label video-title trc_ellipsis\" role=\"link\">With temperatures hitting 95\u00b0F, this is the mini air conditioner everyone\u2019s buying in the U.S<\/span><span class=\"branding composite-branding\"><span class=\"branding-inner inline-branding\" role=\"link\" aria-label=\"News of the Discovery in Taboola advertising section\">News of the Discovery<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Massie argued his party has alienated multiple GOP factions that helped reelect Trump in November 2024, including fiscal hawks, supporters of the Make America Healthy Again agenda and those who oppose U.S. intervention in foreign wars and conflicts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">During his appearance on the news program, Massie seemingly vowed to continue opposing Trump for the rest of his congressional term. &#8220;I&#8217;ve got seven more months to keep going against the grain, which means voting for principles and for people over party,&#8221; Massie said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/JiRxZWiKXfbi1nBOY45.9A--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/usa_today_news_641\/e7c52a4eb28a3434f90ed33161adbd27\" alt=\"Rep. Thomas Massie speaks with supporters after conceding in a Kentucky congressional primary May 19, 2026, in Hebron, Kentucky.\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"18\" data-y-link-id=\"0c5s2h11l5jtyt003xxf\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div>Rep. Thomas Massie speaks with supporters after conceding in a Kentucky congressional primary May 19, 2026, in Hebron, Kentucky.<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><span class=\"exclude-from-newsgate\"><strong>In blow to Trump, Republicans ready\u00a0<\/strong>to scrap $1B for ballroom security<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"max-md:faux-bleed mb-4 bg-accent\/2 pb-5 md:invisible md:mb-0 md:h-0 md:overflow-hidden md:pb-0\">\n<div class=\"py-2 text-center text-xs uppercase\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">He also called Trump&#8217;s ballroom an &#8220;egregious waste of money&#8221; after he was asked by Welker if he believed the party was beginning to break with Trump.<\/p>\n<div class=\"mb-4\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Last week, many Senate Republicans appeared uneasy about the\u00a0$1 billion proposed for White House security funding\u00a0tied to\u00a0Trump&#8217;s ballroom project, which has garnered backlash from the left. Trump has long said that the White House ballroom itself\u00a0would be funded by private donors, not taxpayer dollars.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><em>This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:\u00a0Thomas Massie bashes Trump after losing Kentucky primary<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Outgoing Rep. Thomas Massie\u00a0slammed his fellow Republican members of Congress and\u00a0President Donald Trump\u00a0during the May 24 edition of<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":3209,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,4,48],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3208","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-politics","category-us"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3208","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3208"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3208\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3210,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3208\/revisions\/3210"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3209"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3208"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3208"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3208"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}