President Donald Trump is zeroing in on a small district in Kentucky as he kicks off a campaign to remove one of the few Republicans in Congress who regularly opposes him: Rep. Thomas Massie.
Massie, a libertarian-leaning congressman who represents Kentucky’s 4th District, has drawn Trump’s ire for several reasons.
But one issue stands out to some observers: Massie’s refusal to take money from pro-Israel lobbying groups.
OpenSecrets reports that 335 members of Congress received contributions from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) during a recent election cycle, totaling more than $29 million.
This includes 135 Democrats and 200 Republicans, with no contributions going to independents.
While not mentioned directly by Trump, Massie’s position on the Israel lobby sets him apart in a Republican Party that has grown increasingly supportive of U.S. military and financial backing for Israel.
The Super PAC and the Strategy
Trump’s campaign team recently launched a super PAC called Kentucky MAGA, devoted solely to unseating Massie in the May 2026 primary.
Chris LaCivita, a senior Trump adviser, told the Associated Press, “If you want to be part of an effort to defeat Massie, you will go through us. And the Trump political operation will run the campaign.”
Massie has pushed back, saying the effort is less about him and more about intimidating other Republicans.
“I suspect the President isn’t doing this out of spite for me, but instead to intimidate my colleagues into rubber stamping his actions,” Massie told the AP.
A Long-Running Feud
The feud between Trump and Massie isn’t new.
Back in 2020, Trump labeled Massie a “third rate Grandstander” for trying to block COVID-19 relief funding.
More recently, Massie opposed Trump’s sweeping tax-and-spending bill, one Trump had dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
Massie was one of only two House Republicans to vote against it, prompting Trump to declare that Massie should be “voted out of office.”
Tensions escalated further after Massie co-sponsored a resolution that would require Congress to approve any U.S. military strikes on Iran, including those targeting nuclear sites.
Massie also took to X to say that Trump’s strike on Iran was “not Constitutional.”
Trump responded by calling Massie “not MAGA,” “weak, ineffective,” and “disrespectful to our great military, and all that they stand for.”
He also wrote on Truth Social: “Massie is weak, ineffective, and votes ‘NO’ on virtually everything put before him (Rand Paul, Jr.), no matter how good something may be.”
Trump’s Broader Approach to GOP Dissent
Though Trump has typically avoided attacking GOP incumbents during this election cycle, his team appears to be making an exception.
They’ve already polled Massie’s district and found that while Trump has strong support, Massie remains popular locally.
A Trump-commissioned poll found 52% of likely GOP voters would support a Trump-endorsed challenger, while 23% back Massie. Still, Massie has a history of winning primaries easily.
Local Support Remains Strong
Locals seem unfazed by Trump’s campaign against their congressman.
“He’s speaking out and saying what he believes is true, even when it makes him unpopular,” Republican voter Donna Williamson told the AP.
Another supporter, Rob Houchens, said Massie is “a man of principle,” adding, “I can’t think that it would change one iota of how we would vote.”
Democratic voters are even taking notice. Kim Harper, a local resident, said Massie’s stance against Trump made her more open to voting for him.
“I would vote for somebody that would stand up on each party,” she said.
The Challenger and the Stakes
Trump’s operation is now talking with potential primary challengers. One confirmed candidate so far is Niki Lee Ethington, a registered nurse.
But Trump aides say they want to avoid splitting the anti-Massie vote by rallying behind a single challenger.
Massie, meanwhile, isn’t backing down. Responding to Trump’s attacks online, he joked, “The president had declared so much War on me today it should require an Act of Congress.”
A Test for Trump’s Influence
This is turning into an unusual fight between Republicans, and it could show how much control Trump still has in strong conservative areas, especially when the current congressman has been around a long time and often votes his own way.
While Trump hasn’t publicly cited Massie’s refusal to take pro-Israel PAC money, the congressman’s independent voting record on foreign policy, including Middle East issues, continues to set him apart from his peers.
Massie’s home district, which has stuck by him for years, could now become the place where a bigger battle plays out over what kind of Republican Party voters really want.