Trump rips Massie on the Hill: 'I think he's a grandstander'

Trump’s ’One Big, Beautiful Bill’ hangs in the balance, and with it, permanent tax cuts, extra border security funding, and other items supported by GOP voters.

By Amanda Head

Published: May 20, 2025 11:13am

President Donald Trump today on Capitol Hill expressed frustration over Republican holdouts for his "One Big, Beautiful Bill."

One Republican in particular found himself in Trump's cross hairs: Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who has criticized the bill.

Trump laid into him saying, "I don't think Thomas Massie understands government. I think he's a grandstander, frankly. He'll probably vote [no] - we don't even talk to him much. I think he should be voted out of office. I just don't think he understands government."

"If you ask him a couple of questions, he never gives you an answer... he just says: 'I'm a no.' He thinks he's gonna get publicity," Trump added.

Massie is a fiscal conservative with libertarian leanings and often opposes large government bills, including those from his own party. The tension with Massie dates back to 2020 when Trump took aim at Massie for delaying a $2 trillion COVID-19 relief package by demanding an in-person vote. Massie was the sole GOP vote against the February 2025 budget bill.