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Consultant Thomas Massie responded Monday after President Trump launched a private assault concentrating on the Kentucky lawmaker’s spouse. The dispute rapidly drew consideration inside Republican circles due to its unusually private tone and the figures concerned.
As reported by The Hill, the president used a put up on his social media platform to assert that Massie’s spouse, Carolyn Grace Moffa, was a “Radical Left ‘flamethrower’” and steered their current marriage had turned Massie right into a liberal or a Republican in Title Solely. The put up framed the wedding itself as a purpose for questioning Massie’s loyalty to the social gathering.
Massie responded publicly, rejecting the characterization and mentioning a element he mentioned undercut the accusation completely. He wrote that his spouse voted for Trump thrice, straight difficult the declare that she was a radical left determine influencing his politics.
The dispute escalated rapidly contained in the GOP
In his response, Massie steered the assault might have stemmed from one thing apart from ideology, a dynamic seen in different Republican infighting, such because the current transfer by Trump that killed a conservative rebel over the shutdown deal the place inner disputes reshaped social gathering ways. He mentioned the president might have been informed that his spouse inspired him to query former Florida Legal professional Common Pam Bondi in regards to the standing of the unreleased Jeffrey Epstein information throughout a personal dinner. Massie wrote that Bondi informed him there have been no extra information, including, “As they are saying, the remaining is historical past.”
The president’s authentic put up didn’t soften its language. Trump wrote that “persons are saying” Massie turned a liberal due to his new spouse and described Massie as “a completely horrible and unreliable ‘Republican.’” He went on to recommend Massie could be a Republican in Title Solely or worse, escalating a feud that has been constructing for months.
Trump has already endorsed Ed Gallrein, a retired Navy SEAL, to problem Massie in a Republican main. In previous statements, the president praised Gallrein as a “HIGH QUALITY particular person” and mentioned he was operating as a result of Massie had been “completely disloyal” to each Trump and the Republican Social gathering, urging voters to make sure Massie loses.
Whereas Massie has damaged with the administration on a number of high-profile points, together with pushing for the discharge of Epstein-related information and voting in opposition to the GOP-backed One Massive Lovely Invoice Act final summer season, he has emphasised his electoral energy. Massie has publicly cited greater than $2 million in money available as proof that he stays well-positioned for reelection.
The assault on Massie’s spouse additionally drew pushback from throughout the social gathering. Former Consultant Marjorie Taylor Greene defended Massie on-line, noting that his spouse voted for Trump thrice and stating that Massie votes with the president 91 % of the time, whereas refusing to help measures tied to Epstein or international spending, a stance underscored by current reviews that the Clintons supplied testimony within the Epstein probe, additional intensifying scrutiny on the problem.
Massie’s wedding ceremony to Moffa was attended by a number of distinguished Republicans, together with Senator Rand Paul and Representatives Jim Jordan and Warren Davidson, underscoring her ties inside conservative circles. As of now, the White Home has not issued any additional clarification or response past the president’s authentic put up.
