President Donald Trump blasted Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), calling for him to be thrown out of the Republican Party.
Massie has infuriated many of his colleagues on both sides of the aisle who blame him for forcing Congress to travel back to Washington, D.C., to ensure that a coronavirus spending package is approved.
Trump wrote in a Friday morning tweet, “Looks like a third rate grandstander named Thomas Massie, a Congressman from, unfortunately, a truly GREAT State, Kentucky, wants to vote against the new Save Our Workers Bill in Congress. He just wants the publicity. He can’t stop it, only delay, which is both dangerous and costly.”
The president added that he wants Republicans to win back the House, but wants Massie out of the Republican Party.
“It is ‘HELL’ dealing with the Dems, had to give up some stupid things in order to get the ‘big picture’ done. 90% GREAT! WIN BACK HOUSE, but throw Massie out of Republican Party!” he wrote.
…& costly. Workers & small businesses need money now in order to survive. Virus wasn’t their fault. It is “HELL” dealing with the Dems, had to give up some stupid things in order to get the “big picture” done. 90% GREAT! WIN BACK HOUSE, but throw Massie out of Republican Party!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 27, 2020
Friday’s tweet was not the first time that Trump took a shot at Massie. During Thursday’s press conference, he seemed to reference the Kentucky congressman, saying, “There could be one vote, one vote, one grandstander, you might have one grandstander, and for that we’ll have to come back and take a little more time.”
Some Republican members of Congress were also critical of Massie before the Friday morning Trump tweet.
Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) wrote on Friday morning, “Heading to Washington to vote on pandemic legislation. Because of one Member of Congress refusing to allow emergency action entire Congress must be called back to vote in House. Risk of infection and risk of legislation being delayed.”
“Disgraceful. Irresponsible,” he added.
Heading to Washington to vote on pandemic legislation. Because of one Member of Congress refusing to allow emergency action entire Congress must be called back to vote in House. Risk of infection and risk of legislation being delayed. Disgraceful. Irresponsible.
— Pete King (@RepPeteKing) March 27, 2020
The speculation is that Massie would object to the coronavirus package.
In a recent radio interview, he defended his play that forced lawmakers to come back to Washington, saying, “If congressmen are complaining that it’s hard to travel, well, what about the truckers that I saw on the road when I drove to DC? Hitch a ride with the trucker.”