Trump lashes out at Rep. Massie amid Iran strike criticism, calls him ‘Rand Paul Jr.’
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Trump criticized Rep. Massie after airstrike backlash over Iran conflict.
- Massie claimed airstrikes with Congress approval marked an 'act of war.'
- Democrats joined Massie's resolution to reassert Congress's war powers role.
After Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie took to social media and morning TV Sunday morning to criticize President Donald Trump’s airstrikes in Iran, Trump fired back at the Republican congressman, calling him “Rand Paul Jr.”
Trump posted a lengthy statement on social media, calling Massie a“negative force” and “grandstander,” among other taunts.
“Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky is not MAGA, even though he likes to say he is,” Trump posted. “Actually, MAGA doesn’t want him, doesn’t know him, and doesn’t respect him.”
Massie and Trump have a history of disagreement, though they have agreed at times, too.
The same is true for Sen. Rand Paul, another Republican from Kentucky who has defied Trump on several recent issues, including a massive spending bill and a military parade to mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army.
Massie and Trump have been at odds for most of the president’s second term. Massie was one of only two House Republicans to vote “no” on Trump’s spending bill, and the Kentucky congressman has been the loudest voice in the room against Trump’s actions against Iran.
The two exchanged dueling posts after Trump addressed the nation late Saturday to tell of “very successful” bombs dropped by the U.S. on Iranian nuclear sites.
Massie quickly said he believed Trump’s decision to destroy Iranian development sites was unconstitutional and “an act of war.”
Trump responded: “Massie is a weak, ineffective, and votes “NO” on virtually everything put before him (Rand Paul, Jr.).”
Trump also vowed to campaign “really hard” in Kentucky for an unnamed Republican to challenge Massie in a primary election next spring. The president has said several times that Massie should face a primary opponent, but no one has said publicly they will run against Massie.
A spokesperson for Massie’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday afternoon on Trump’s latest post.
Paul had not weighed in on the bombings as of Sunday afternoon, but he previously said he would not vote to send American troops to Iran.
Other Kentucky lawmakers sided with Trump, and said the bombings were not an act of war but the culmination of unsuccessful negotiations with Iranian officials to cease nuclear development.
The U.S. attacks came after several days of missile exchanges between Iran and Israel, an American ally, amid an escalating conflict in the Middle East.
The U.S. became involved in the conflict Saturday night, when Trump confirmed the military had bombed three Iranian development sites.
But Massie argued in a follow-up social media post Sunday morning that Trump ordered the airstrikes without approval from Congress, and they were an official act of war, which would require congressional approval.
Last week, Massie filed a resolution to ban the United States from involvement in the Israel-Iran war.
“When two countries are bombing each other daily in a hot war, and a third country joins the bombing, that’s an act of war,” Massie said.
After Saturday’s bombings, California Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna and Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Steven Lynch joined Massie’s resolution to “ reassert their role.”
“This is a flagrant and unconstitutional action that potentially brings our nation to the precipice of war,” Lynch said in a statement on Sunday. “My thoughts are with our brave men and women who defend this country. Now Congress must immediately reclaim our Constitutional authority and conduct rigorous oversight of President Trump’s decision to carry out this attack.”
