Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie says that, come spring, Republican congressmen will increasingly buck the party line and defy President Donald Trump’s wishes.
“The margin is razor-thin, so on any given day, I would just need one or two of my own co-conspirators to get something done,” Massie told Politico when asked about Trump’s ability to prevent lawmakers from defecting on key votes.
Massie, a Republican with a stubborn libertarian streak, has consistently opposed omnibus spending packages, hemp regulation, and the use of military force without congressional approval.
He was one of just two House Republicans to vote against the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in July, arguing it would increase the deficit.
Additionally, Massie introduced the Epstein Files Transparency Act, legislation that compelled the Department of Justice to release millions of documents on the now-deceased convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump was initially opposed to releasing the files before ultimately supporting the passage of the legislation.
White House spokesman Davis Ingle had few kind words for Massie, telling The Daily Signal in response to his remarks, “Thomas Massie voted against the largest middle-class tax cuts in American history, border wall funding, kicking illegals off of taxpayer-funded Medicaid benefits, and every other commonsense provision codifying President Trump’s popular Make America Great Again Agenda.”
Ingle added, “That’s because Thomas Massie cares more about peacocking for his radical Democrat friends and liberal media allies than delivering for the men and women of Kentucky’s 4th District.”
Republicans currently hold a 218-214 margin in the House of Representatives, meaning they can afford only one defection on legislation if all Democrats unite in opposition.
Should any Republican die, retire, or otherwise be unable to show up for votes, leadership’s ability to advance legislation could be put in jeopardy.
Massie explained he believes future defectors will mainly be retiring members and those who no longer need Trump’s backing after the spring primaries.
“The retirement caucus is growing, and primary days are coming up and passing,” said Massie. “Once we get past March, April, and May, which contain a large portion of their Republican primaries, I think you’re going to see more defections.”
So far, 30 House Republicans are not seeking reelection in 2026.
Last week, retiring Republican Reps. Dan Newhouse of Washington and Don Bacon of Nebraska both voted to rescind Trump’s declaration of a national emergency relating to drugs coming over the Canadian border, which the administration has used as a legal means of imposing tariffs on Canada.
Four other Republican members joined them in opposition: Massie, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Kevin Kiley of California, and Jeff Hurd of Colorado.
Massie is facing off against a Trump-backed primary challenger, and Kiley is deciding on which district to run in for 2026 after pro-Democrat redistricting in California.
Asked to describe the size of the group of Republicans currently willing to defy Trump, Massie said, “It’s really just the retirement caucus. And so, they have to weigh the cost of alienating the president of the United States in their future job.”