President Donald Trump has publicly criticized Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky for opposing the ‘big beautiful bill,’ a sprawling piece of legislation that has now passed one of its final hurdles. Trump, while on Air Force One, predicted that Massie’s upcoming primary race would result in his defeat, stating that any candidate he endorses against Massie would likely win by 25 points. The President’s remarks were part of a broader campaign to ensure the bill, which aims to address taxes, immigration, energy, defense, and national debt, is passed by the Fourth of July deadline.
Massie, who has consistently opposed the legislation, has raised concerns about its potential to add $20 trillion in federal debt over a decade. He criticized Trump’s economic policies as unsustainable, arguing that the bill ‘dramatically increases deficits in the near-term, but promises our government will be fiscally responsible five years from now,’ a claim he dismissed as reminiscent of past fiscal policies that have failed. The President, however, dismissed Massie’s concerns, labeling him as ‘Rand Paul Junior’ and accusing him of being unconstructive and unintelligent. ‘He’s always a no,’ Trump said, adding that he ‘does not think about’ Massie in his strategy.
The bill’s passage was confirmed by the Senate while Trump was speaking at a roundtable event at a new illegal immigrant detention center he recently toured in the Florida Everglades. Trump has been actively rallying Republican lawmakers to support the legislation since his inauguration, with the majority of Republicans voting in favor of its provisions. However, a small faction, including Massie, Rand Paul, Thorn Tillis, and Susan Collins, have resisted the passage. The legislation, now set to reach Trump’s desk by mid-July, has also drawn criticism from prominent figures like Elon Musk, who has allied with Massie and Paul in opposing the bill, calling it a ‘debt bomb ticking’ and a ‘missed opportunity’ for conservatives.