Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who has come under fire from President Donald Trump after refusing to back his "big, beautiful bill" and his strikes on Iran, says now he'd like to come to a ceasefire agreement in their yearslong battle.
Trump and his allies have vowed to fight against Massie in the 2026 primary, not only after the battle over the megabill but also in connection with the outspoken lawmaker's push to prohibit U.S. forces from engaging in hostilities against Iran without having authorization from Congress.
But Massie, reports The Wall Street Journal Wednesday, said that as he's "survived the bunker busters" issue after Trump's military strikes in Iran last weekend, it's time to "call it even" with the president.
However, he insisted that he has the "antibodies" to survive yet another attempt by Trump to toss him out of the office he's held since 2012.
The congressman says Trump is attacking him to set an example to other Republicans who won't back his demands.
"They are flogging me to keep the other horses in the barn," he said. "This is not about changing my vote."
But already, a year before the primaries start up, pro-Trump groups are looking for candidates to square off against Massie.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a pro-Israel lobbying group, is trying to oust him, according to two sources familiar with the race.
And even closer to Trump, campaign strategist Chris LaCivita is reportedly seeking a candidate to challenge Massie, sources say.
Trump's arguments against Massie continued this week, when he posted Tuesday on his Truth Social page that Massie is a "so-called 'Congressman,' a RINO, at best" who "votes, 'NO!' on everything, because he thinks it makes him cool, but he's not cool, he's a LOSER!"
Trump has wielded his powers before to stop the political careers of several Republicans he considered disloyal, including former Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, who backed the second impeachment against him, and Rep. Bob Good of Virginia, who endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the 2024 primary rather than Trump.
But Massie said he's different, as he has defeated primary opponents in the past.
The congressman is from a deep-red district in Kentucky and said that he does not expect the president to back an opponent unless the race is close.
One challenger, though, said he's ready to step up.
Retired attorney Eric Deters, who in 2024 got 12% of the vote against Massie, commented he has "let Trump world know" he's ready to run again.
Deters hosted Trump's sons, Eric and Donald Jr., at his Patriots Day Freedom Fest but said he'll only run if Trump backs his campaign.
"You're wasting your time running against Massie if you don't have the Trump endorsement, but if you have the Trump endorsement, you're going to win," he said.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who Massie tried to oust as speaker, and Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., would not offer the Kentucky Republican any defense, as he often votes against party-backed legislation.
"I hope that Thomas Massie will come around and do what is right by his constituents and support good legislation and stop teaming up with the Democrats on everything," said Johnson. "He says terrible things about me on a daily basis, but it rolls off my back. But I want him to do right by the country and do right by the Republican team here."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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